7.28.2016

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Seventy-Third Edition, July 28, 2016

Featured Alumna: Shelby Howard '12

Well y'all it is about that time, the HOBY withdraws have fully set in and the new school year is quickly approaching. I know many thoughts are running through your mind, the same thing happened to me back in 2012 when I attended HOBY as an ambassador: what is going to happen when I go back to school? Are people going to notice a difference in me? Are people going to understand what happened to me after just three days? In all honesty, most people will not understand. Nevertheless, that does not mean that what happened to you is not a great thing. HOBY has taught me numerous lessons over the years, the biggest being that just because people don't understand something doesn't make it any less important. HOBY is a very important organization to me, it has taught me life lessons, introduced me to some of my best friends and showed me who I truly was (which is a mixture of a whole slew of birds). However, when I tell people I am going to volunteer at a conference for 3 days, with minimal sleep and maximum energy, they do not understand. "Why would you give up that time?" is a question I have been asked on a few occasions. But none of this takes away from my experience that is HOBY. What you need to remember no matter what happens to you or what changes that live gives you, even though someone does not understand, there is someone out there that understands what you're going through and how special that even is.

Just know that each and every one of you is special and are here on this earth for a purpose, you have a light that shines bright and do not let people who cannot see it diminish it.

HOBY Info:
Georgia HOBY Store
Amazon Smile
  • If you shop at Amazon, then switch to Amazon Smile (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-2861279). It is the exact same website, but 0.5% of purchases will be donated to a charity of your choice.
  • Choose HOBY Georgia (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) as your charity!
Social Networking!!!
  • Find us on Facebook: HOBY Georgia
  • Follow us on Twitter: @GA_HOBY  
  • Follow us on Instagram: hoby_georgia
  • Follow us on Vine: Georgia HOBY
  • Follow us on SnapChat: hobygeorgia
  • Check our the website: www.gahoby.org
  • Check out our YouTube channel: HOBY Georgia
  • Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers
Hours
This Blog
  • If you would like post a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" in the future on this blog, then email gahobyfundraising@gmail.com also with your response!
  • Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post
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7.20.2016

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Seventy-Second Edition, July 20, 2016

Featured Alumna: Morgan Fermin '10

If you ask my parents, I have been outgoing since the moment they brought me home from the hospital, and I feel like going to HOBY in 2010 really made me grow into the person I am today. Chosen because of an essay I threw together in-between InterAct Meetings and Marching Band, I was more than excited to arrive on campus at 6:58AM in Americus, Georgia. I was the first car that arrived, and TWENTY Junior Staff came charging at my car. The two people that took my bags, Courtney and Hallie, introduced to me to this organization that would soon become a major part of my world.
How crazy is it that this was SIX years ago?! WOW have I changed from that girl that was incredibly nervous to be somewhere where I knew absolutely no-one--to now when I CANNOT live without speaking to a member of my HOBY family every.single.day. (I am pretty sure the 200 day snapchat streak really speaks for itself) The seminar taught me how to lead by example, how to serve my community, and how to make a lifelong friend over 5 hours of sleep in 72 hours. I love what HOBY did for me. I love that it brought out my confidence and brought out my skills. It has opened my eyes to so many new things, and that everyone has a story. It is incredible that so many people are brought together and changed through this experience. I am forever thankful for the friendships, the support, and the love I have gained from this organization. It is more than just a weekend a year to me, it is a part of my heart that I am so happy exists.
To think that I fell so in-love with this organization, and was not originally chosen to come back on Junior Staff is something I think about often. I knew from the moment that I saw the excitement of Junior Staff it was something I wanted to be apart of. When I was chosen originally as an alternate, I did not let my inner spirit die. Instead, I put more effort into helping my community. When Cameron called me just a week before the seminar in 2011, I jumped at the opportunity to come. After 3 years on junior staff, a year as a junior facilitator, an accidental facilitator (twice), and the director of junior staff, volunteering for HOBY has truly come full circle. I could not imagine a summer without HOBY, (or a day without HOBY honestly) and I am so grateful for everything this organization has brought me.

HOBY Info:
Georgia HOBY Store
Amazon Smile
  • If you shop at Amazon, then switch to Amazon Smile (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-2861279). It is the exact same website, but 0.5% of purchases will be donated to a charity of your choice.
  • Choose HOBY Georgia (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) as your charity!
Social Networking!!!
  • Find us on Facebook: GA HOBY Alumni
  • Follow us on Twitter: @GA_HOBY  
  • Follow us on Instagram: hoby_georgia
  • Follow us on Vine: Georgia HOBY
  • Follow us on SnapChat: hobygeorgia
  • Check our the website: www.gahoby.org
  • Check out our YouTube channel: HOBY Georgia
  • Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers
Hours
This Blog
  • If you would like post a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" in the future on this blog, then email gahobyfundraising@gmail.com also with your response!
  • Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post
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7.11.2016

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Seventy-First Edition, July 11, 2016

Featured Alumnus: Khalil Newell '14
     What is the most memorable event that has ever happened in your life? Many people will say their high school or college graduation. Others will say their wedding or the proposal that preceded it. As of right now, mine is my weekend as an ambassador at HOBY. I know this because it's the only event that I have a perfect recollection of, besides my extremely recent graduation, but that doesn't count yet. I remember being with my mom and seeing all these crazy people yelling and cheering at our car, and I thought about asking her to turn around. Come the end of the weekend, I was one of those crazy people doing seemingly ridiculous cheers.
     There are three things that I took away from HOBY that I still use to this day. I learned to be confident in myself and not worry about fitting in or being too weird. I learned to genuinely care about others and be there for them during times of struggle and times of triumph. Finally, I learned to be a better leader by being accountable for my actions while also being confident in those actions. Those three things weren't necessarily taught from a speaker, but through the acts of the staff and the activities we participated in as well. There were plenty of other things I learned and took with me too. Those three just happened to stick with me through all these years and will continue to drive me for the rest of my life.
     I consider HOBY one of the reasons I am where I am today. I will be attending Georgia Tech this coming fall, and I have HOBY to thank for inspiring me to work even harder to achieve my goals. I have been a part of many clubs and organizations where I have been able to show off my leadership and service capabilities. I am a member of a 5 person ensemble with my closest friends making music, participating in and winning competitions, and performing around our city and state at events. I honestly feel like none of that would be possible if I had not spent that one weekend at HOBY, so I am forever grateful for what HOBY has done for me, what HOBY has done for others, and what HOBY will continue to do in the years to come.

HOBY Info:
Georgia HOBY Store
Amazon Smile
  • If you shop at Amazon, then switch to Amazon Smile (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-2861279). It is the exact same website, but 0.5% of purchases will be donated to a charity of your choice.
  • Choose HOBY Georgia (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) as your charity!
Social Networking!!!
  • Find us on Facebook: GA HOBY Alumni
  • Follow us on Twitter: @GA_HOBY  
  • Follow us on Instagram: hoby_georgia
  • Follow us on Vine: Georgia HOBY
  • Follow us on SnapChat: hobygeorgia
  • Check our the website: www.gahoby.org
  • Check out our YouTube channel: HOBY Georgia
  • Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers
Hours
This Blog
  • If you would like post a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" in the future on this blog, then email gahobyfundraising@gmail.com also with your response!
  • Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post
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