HOBY seminars, or Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminars, take place every summer in every state in the U.S., and also internationally. If you do not know what a HOBY seminar consists of, you are missing out! Seminars are put on for ambassadors who are incoming High School Juniors. I attended HOBY South Dakota in 2014. I was very shy, and arrived late because of another program I was involved in. I remember being taken into a room on an unfamiliar college campus with my "district." The theme for our seminar that year was The Hunger Games, and I had the privilege of being in District 12. We had speakers and did some amazing activities. One of the last days we always have volunteer projects and set the ambassadors up with ideas and resources to do their own volunteering outside of HOBY. I have returned to the HOBY seminars the past two years to volunteer. HOBY teaches about leadership and service, and I love helping to inspire those young people to continue with the skills they have learned. Here is a small list of my top ten favorite parts of HOBY seminars!

10. Learning more about yourself in 4 days with a group of strangers than you ever thought you'd learn.

9. The projects we do to help us learn how to work effectively with all types of people.

8. Being able to look deep into oneself to understand your feelings and others.

7. Watching the ambassadors grow both individually and as a group in only 4 days.

6. The service projects we complete, and seeing how we can make a difference in the lives of many.

5. The CHEERS of course! "Hey, Burrito!"

4. Having deep conversations with some of the best friends you will every have... that you met three days before!

3. Always having a family to support you no matter what.

2. Connecting with people of all ages and stages of their lives.

1. Inspiring young minds to become leaders in society!

Now it's your turn to share your HOBY experience! What's your favorite part of HOBY? Let's start a conversation in the comments down below!