HOBY

I can't remember what I described before, so just in case I'll revisit it.  Every highschool selects one Sophomore to participate in a 4-day HOBY (Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership) seminar.   The kids have to submit an essay, and the guidance counselor and some other people I can't remember pick the representative from their school.  Kaylee was selected to go, and we dropped her off on Thursday morning down at the University of Indianapolis, south of Indy.  We had no idea what to expect or what it was really about.  Leadership--got it.  What do they DO.  Nobody knew.  I still couldn't tell you, frankly.  Leadership stuff.  ;)  They send an email out and tell us how the kids did something with group leadership and social leadership and individual leadership and community leadership, have mentors to meet with in various fields, etc.  Anyway, so that's what she's been doing Thursday-Sunday.   When we took her there, it was well organized, very busy, and there were kids everywhere greeting people, pointing them in the right direction, etc.  The first thing the kids had to do when they got registered and settled into their rooms was go to the front lawn and be part of the "cheer circle"  There were large groups of kids in matching shirts doing chants and cheers on the lawn, chanting at new kids coming in.  It was very early in the morning for large numbers of teenagers to be cheering and chanting at me.  I tried to put a pleasant look on my face.  I hope I was successful.  When we left, Kaylee was walking towards the required cheer group, looking back at us with a shrug.  Since then I've seen a few photos of her there, and she's smiling a real smile, and seems to be having fun.  They broke a Guinness Book of World Record's record on most hugs given in a short period of time, and it was an official record.  Side note:  This would NOT have been a seminar for me to attend.  Ever.  But I think it probably would have done me some good, and I think it's great to teach high schoolers leadership skills and ideas to grow on, and do it in an energetic and fun way.  We go fetch her tomorrow morning.  They said they had a surprise for the kids, involving the parents.  I don't really dig surprises, but we'll see.  ;)

Here's a pic of Kaylee down there, yesterday.  Real smile and all.