Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Fifty-Second Edition, January 22, 2016
Featured Volunteer: Hunter Quintal (First Seminar NW '15)
Let me preface this by saying that I was not an ambassador.
Unlike many of you, I was not one of the select few from Georgia to be
nominated. However, like many of you, I was completely unaware of what HOBY
stood for before I became a part of it.
My name is Hunter Quintal and my introduction to and involvement
in HOBY is somewhat non-traditional. My best friend from high school is a HOBY
alumna and always spoke highly of the program. She would tell me of how her
experiences as an ambassador shaped her understanding of her self awareness and
self confidence, and how her interactions with other high-achieving students
acted as encouragement for her to continue giving her all to her schoolwork and
to her community.
When I applied to be a junior facilitator last winter, it
was this knowledge that I took with me. Oh yeah, and I also knew was that I
would run after parents’ cars, shrieking and hollering. That’s about it. I felt
like I knew what I was in for. I felt like the weekend would end too quickly and
that I wouldn’t really gain anything in such a short period of time. Boy was I
was wrong!
The weekend became endless in the lessons and relationships
that I continuously was a part of. I watched before my eyes as the students
that I had grown close to became more outgoing, more spirited, more
self-assured, more creative, and more visibly inquisitive. These shy students
grew into themselves, finding their own voice and all contributing differently
to group and individual action and reflection. I learned as they did, and found
that I was diversifying my own skills of communication and leadership as I
interacted with them. We all became thoughtful community leaders as we confronted
issues brought up in the seminar.
That weekend last summer made me evaluate my worldview, and
reassess my effectiveness as a member of the various organizations and groups
that I call home. The staff and ambassadors were so welcoming and supportive,
and I easily fit into that community of humble, gracious, and confident leaders.
HOBY inspired me. HOBY reinvented me. I hope to continue serving HOBY and
working towards the goals that HOBY stands for. By the way, everyone who has
been impacted by HOBY interprets those goals differently. I hope to hear what
HOBY means to you.
HOBY Info:
Amazon Smile
- If your shop at Amazon, the 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 Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (Atlanta, GA) 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
- Keep logging them! Can you accomplish the 100 Hour Challenge? Georgia HOBY knows that you can. Here is the place to do so: https://reg.hoby.org/HOBYL4S/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fHOBYL4S%2f
- Need ideas for Volunteering projects? Email gahobyalumniadvisor@gmail.com, check the HOBY website: hoby.org, and/or research into what your community needs!
- How far has your Chain Reaction of Kindness reached?
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
