My very first experience with HOBY as a sophomore in high school was exhilarating. I met life long friends, gained confidence and the leadership skills that will lead me through my entire life. I have come to the realization that I have a passion for working with kids and that I have the power to spark change and make a difference in my own community. I’ll never forget these four days, because they have stirred up something special in my heart. I am so thankful for this opportunity and for all of the people I met along the way. Completing 100 hours of service seems daunting, but I am more determined than ever. I want to come home to HOBY next summer!
My group at HOBYOHS 2017 before the pep rally!
October 17 2017 // First Night Volunteering at Kids Club with SON Ministries
There are so many kids at kids club! It’s overwhelming and crazy at times but all of the children here are super fun and excited to be here. I know that this is something I’m going to fall in love with because I’ve already had some little girls wanting to play with me and it’s been really fun! I’ve also met a few other teen interns also known as “orange shirts” and they seem really nice. I am looking forward to coming back. It’s going to take a while to get enough hours, but all I need to do is serve 12 Tuesday or Thursday nights between now and April 1st, which isn’t that bad. I’m excited to meet the rest of the kids and to hangout with them!
January 30th 2018 // Kids Club
Tonight was such an awesome night. I love spending time with these kiddos! The girls that have grown on me the most are two super cute sister who always run up and give me a hug every night when they arrive, and a few other girls who have become like my little clan. It’s so awesome to be able to have an impact on their day and be someone that they can talk to and play with and look forward to seeing. I’ve really settled into my role as a teen intern and I absolutely love what I do as a volunteer. These kids have a huge impact on my week and make me feel loved and like I have a purpose. This whole experience so far has been extremely fulfilling.
Some of my favorite kiddos at Kids Club!
March 13th 2018 // Kids Club
Joy. It is the only word that can encompass and describe how all of these kids and this organization make me feel on a daily basis. Every week is spent looking forward to the next night of Kids Club where I’ll be met with giggling, joyful faces of children whose mouths look like jack-o-lanterns and whose hearts are bigger than the moon. I have the privilege of knowing each and every one of them on a personal level and I am so grateful. My friends have noticed the changes in my attitude and mental health. Whenever I am extra giddy and excited in school, they know that later that night I have volunteering. The joy that these children have instilled in my heart is everlasting and it makes me want to spend my time and get my degree in something that will allow me to be surrounded by this constantly. It makes me feel driven and passionate about empowering youth and making the best possible path for them to be successful. It makes me want to be an educator.
One of my favorite middle schoolers from Kids Club and the massive smile I wear each night at volunteering.
April 19th 2018 // Kids Club
This is nearly the end of Kids Club and it’s incredible how fast time goes by when you’re doing something you love. It’s been almost six months of volunteering and I’ve loved every second. It’s not even about the hours anymore. I surpassed the 12 night requirement months ago and I’ve come every single night because that’s how special Kids Club is to me. For me, volunteering went from a requirement to a necessity. Without it, I feel like a part of me is missing. Service is in my blood and I’ve learned more about myself in the past six months than I ever have before. I now know that I want to major in education and become an English teacher. I know that I have a passion for working with kids and I have a better understanding of the power I have to change those around me for the better. This experience is one I wouldn’t change for the world, and I’m already looking forward to volunteering this summer with SON Ministries. My stress has diminished and I have gained patience and boatloads of love. I am forever changed.
Soaking up the love and laughter before Kids Club comes to an end for this year.
June 6th 2018 // Staff Arrival Night at HOBY Ohio South 2018
I made it! It’s still hard for me to believe that I am a junior facilitator this year and that I’ll be leading my very own group of 10 high school sophomores alongside my senior facilitator. I am so excited and anxious to meet everyone and see where Group I takes me this year. I want to provide an inspiring, motivating and life-changing experience for this kids, just like the one I received last year. I’ve already met all the other staff members and many of them are my friends who were also ambassadors at HOBY Ohio South 2017 last year. We are all doing some final preparation before tomorrow morning when the ambassadors arrive. It’s tradition for staff to paint the rock the night before and it was a blast! I am so pumped for this seminar!
HOBY Ohio South 2018 staff together around the rock!
June 11th 2018 // Last Day of the HOBY Ohio South 2018 Seminar
I feel incredibly humbled and filled with gratitude for the wonderful group of ambassadors I have been blessed with this year. Each and every one of them have inspired me and motivated me to be the best version of myself. For our last activity as a group, I lead an activity that I participated in during my ambassador year.
I gave everyone a half sheet of paper with their name written on it. Each ambassador, our senior facilitator and myself received our paper. The object was to silently pass the papers to our left and once you received a paper, you looked at that person’s name and wrote down one word to describe them and your initials. By the end, you got your paper back and it was filled with adjectives that others described you as.
This is an extremely emotional activity and I had about five ambassadors tear up or cry. It hits you in the heart when you read the words that your peers described you as and it gives you confidence and makes you see the good in yourself, because that’s what other people see. I told them all to never forget how they were feeling in that moment and to keep this paper somewhere that they could look back at it frequently whenever they needed a confidence booster or some motivation. It was one of the coolest and most heart warming parts of this seminar. I truly got through to each of my ambassadors and it made me realize that I connect well with this age group. It made me feel confident in the fact that I want to teach secondary education (7-12). This first seminar back on staff was OUTSTANDING!
My paper from the activity this seminar.
July 2nd 2018 // First Day of Summer Lunch Camp
It feels so good to be back. I am still running on the energy of HOBY and so I am eager to get back into volunteering and seeing some amazing kiddos! I already recognize the staff members and a few kids from Kids Club, so that makes everything even better. This is a lot different from Kids Club, because it’s all week long, instead of just two days per week. Some kids are already wanting to play with me and I’ve met so many children! We played some games, ate lunch and hung out. I am still getting used to how Summer Lunch Camp works but I am ready to get back to the grind!
I July 13th 2018 // Summer Lunch Camp
This little girl and I have become the best of friends! She is so smart, kind, compassionate and fun. I’ve loved getting to know her and spend time with her! The best part of Summer Lunch Camp so far has been meeting new kids and getting to know them. They are all unique and have their own fun nicknames, favorite games and are usually always ready to have fun and learn something new! I have been reminded of how much I love the elementary school age group and how much fun they are! A few of the orange shirt teen interns from Kids Club are also volunteering here with me this month so it’s been a blast to spend time with them as well. It’s going great so far!
My favorite kiddo from Summer Lunch Camp! (and my awesome fanny pack lol)
July 31st 2018 // Last Day of Summer Lunch Camp
The last day always consists of lots of giggles, silly faces and countless hugs. These kids have had so much fun this summer and many of them don’t want to let go. They keep hugging me over and over again because they don’t want to leave and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t making me feel emotional. The kids always have a profound affect on my heart and just like during Kids Club, the children brought smiles, joy, laughter, love and patience into my life; all things everyone can always use more of. It’s sad to be saying goodbye but I am ready to start school and get back into the routine of things. This all started last summer with HOBY, and my life has been forever changed. I am unbelievably thankful, blessed and humbled by this entire experience. I can’t wait to volunteer as much as I can, major in secondary education, and become more and more involved in my faith. I have truly learned that the greatest way to see God on Earth is through the smiles, laughter, eyes and hands of children. We have so much to learn from them.
Silly faces for a silly last day.
Time Log // Hours Logged through the HOBY Website
I logged all of my hours throughout his process in the HOBY Leadership For Service Website which keeps track of the project or activity, dates, hours and contact information to verify with an advisor from that project/activity that the hours were completed.
Below are screenshots from the website with contact information, hours and dates of each activity.