This past summer, two Xenia High School students took advantage of the opportunity to attend the HOBY Youth Leadership seminar held at Marietta College. As participants, Violet Black and Abi Neal were able to learn and grow with peers from across the state, developing leadership skills and connecting with others who want to make a positive impact on the world around them. 

When the opportunity to apply was shared with all sophomores last year, Abi and Violet chose to apply for the state-wide event that took place this past July.

Abi, who is a member of AFJROTC and Percussion Ensemble at Xenia High School, while also carrying a heavy load of CCP classes at Sinclair Community College, is considering a career in law enforcement or in the medical field. She applied to the program because she was interested in developing her leadership skills, and would definitely recommend participating in the program to other students, no matter what career they are planning for.

"I was expecting a lot of seminars and listening to other people tell me about their experiences, but the three-day program was definitely more interactive — almost like a summer camp," Abi said. "I learned that everyone brings something different but needed to the table, and I am super-excited to bring some of the things that I learned back to school and hope to help people feel more connected."

Violet, who is a member of the XHS Academic Team, Model UN, and is the alto section leader for Vocal Ensemble, can usually be found on stage for the fall play and spring musical, as well. She serves on the executive board for Student Council, where she is currently helping plan for Homecoming events in September.

"At HOBY, participants are really challenged to interact with new people immediately, since they mix students into groups of strangers — but in a really fun way," Violet said. "Everyone had different interpretations of what was going on, but we were all there with the goal of developing as leaders and making helping others a priority."

The HOBY Youth Leadership seminar is for students who are heading into their Junior year of high school, helping them develop the skills that will allow them to take on more responsibility and leadership roles in school and beyond. It is designed to help students recognize their own leadership abilities, cultivate personal growth, and inspire them to take action by building connections and community among participants.

"I have always liked taking on leadership roles, but this experience really changed how I thought about leadership," Violet said. "I used to think of leaders as the captain of a ship who drives the project, but now I think that it has to be more collaborative to be successful. Being willing to include different input and perspectives will make me a better leader here at school."