By James Massara
CCN News Director
ADA — Three Crawford County high school students recently four days learning about what it takes to be a leader, and how to take those characteristics to better their communities.
The students, Jaylah Westberry of Wynford, Braxton Tate of Galion, and Devon Reed of Crestline, were three of 216 students who attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar West Region on the campus of Ohio Northern University in Ada.
HOBY uses a high-energy atmosphere, along with guest speakers, panels and team-building exercises, to teach what being a leader is about.
“My favorite part was the different cheers and dances,” Westberry said. “I believe HOBY taught me how to embrace the leader in me.”
Some activities helped show students that even when they were going through tough times, they are not alone.
“I really enjoyed the step over the line activity,” Reed said. “This is because you could see how you weren’t alone, such as when they brought up bullying. I did not feel alone.”
One of the objectives of the seminar is to teach the students about service through hands-on community service work on the Saturday of the seminar. Students, who are referred to as ambassadors during the event, were sent to homeless shelters, Habitat for Humanity Restores, fire stations, nursing homes and other various locations in the Ada, Lima, Kenton, Findlay and Bluffton areas.
“I am even doing more community service, so I can become a junior facilitator (volunteer with HOBY) next year,” Westberry said.
Students also are encouraged to find a passion project to take home with them to better their communities. Passion projects are ideas the ambassadors come up with to fulfill a need seen in their communities. Each student is encouraged to complete their projects when they return to their home schools.
Small groups also are used for discussions to give a better chance for ambassadors to get to know each other and use personal experiences to discuss the speakers and panels heard during the seminar.
“At HOBY, I made life-long friends,” Westberry said. “Some, I’m even trying to make plans with for the summer.”
Reed agreed.
“In small groups, I made my closest friends,” Reed said. “I felt that I could tell them anything, and they would listen. I’m glad to call all of them my family.”
Westberry said HOBY is something they wish every student could experience.
“I believe that if everyone did, it would make such an impact on their lives,” she said.
Reed said he would be donating money from the Crestline Student Committee to ensure future Crestline students could attend in the future.
“I believe everyone would benefit greatly from this experience,” he added.
According to the HOBY website, HOBY was founded in 1958 by Hugh O’Brian, who was known for his portrayal as western star Wyatt Earp.
HOBY is an international organization for students who recently completed their sophomore year. More than 10,000 students attend a seminar annually.
Ohio has four regions, with the three students from Crawford County attending the Ohio West Region, shown in yellow on the map.