A Peek At The Bigger Picture: HOBY Norcal 2019

From Kanchan, News Team Contributor

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting the HOBY Norcal Youth Seminar — a three day leadership program dedicated to empowering sophomores from across the state. To be quite honest, I had no idea what I had signed up for when my school’s guidance counselor recommended me for HOBY. But by some ridiculous stroke of luck, I attended the seminar — overpacked duffel bags and all. Although it was eight in the morning when I dragged my luggage into HOBY’s Sacramento building, the general positivity that every mentor, junior staff member, and teammate carried quickly roused me out of sleep deprivation. We spent the next two days getting to know one another and exchanging ideas about our roles society. As a member of the Tri-Valley, I often feel as though I’m trapped in a “bubble” of my own circumstances. There is a sense of conformity in the socio-economic status that I share with my friends back home, so it was immensely refreshing to gain some insight into the lives of other California natives. From wildfires to workforce housing to water conservation, the issues we face are diverse but united in our determination to change them. There is so much I will take with me after my time with HOBY, but most importantly is the confidence to apply what I’ve learned beyond HOBY’s walls. I whole-heartedly recommend this program to rising sophomores looking for a voice and vision. Inspired by the empowered, courageous people surrounding me, I found both.