Photo by Fred Alvarez
Each spring, more than 10,000 sophomores are selected for one of the seventy Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Programs, also known as HOBY, around the country. This program teaches students about being a leader inside and outside of the classroom, and shows them how to apply these skills in ethical ways.
This year, Olivia Brown has been selected to represent the Ojai Valley School at the California Central HOBY Leadership Conference held at Cal Lutheran University from June 14 to June 17.
Fred Alvarez, OVS College Counselor, along with a cluster of other teachers selected Olivia for this seminar. They felt her application was authentic and presented her as a natural born leader.
“In Olivia’s application, she was forthright, genuine, and I think that the faculty as a whole not only likes Olivia but respects Olivia. We all thinks she possesses leadership potential, and I think that’s what made her the perfect choice for HOBY,” Mr. Alvarez said.
Olivia was ecstatic to receive this award, and is extremely proud to represent the Ojai Valley School this year. When the announcement was made, a smile spread rapidly across her face lighting up the whole room. She was not expecting to be chosen, bearing in mind how many others applied, but she is overjoyed, considering her enthusiasm in demonstrating leadership inside and outside of academics.
“Even though I am not in student leadership, or in a student leader role I still believe I apply leadership qualities in sports or in the classroom. I take the lead on school projects, and on the sports field I take initiative when sometimes other people don’t, and I think that is important,” Olivia commented.
Both Olivia and Mr. Alvarez are hoping she will gain many valuable skills that she will apply in her daily life for the rest of her years in high school, and the years after. Many of OVS’s prominent students have gone through the HOBY seminar program and it has shaped them into stronger students and leaders.
“I hope what they gain is the idea of being able to interact with others, and their like-minded peers, find out there is a world outside of Ojai or OVS, and perhaps make some really good connections along the way,” Mr. Alvarez concluded.