2007 Alumni Testimonials
“HOBY has made me look at my life in such a more positive, and emotional way, it's just so "OUTSTANDING". When I said goodbye to my Brazil team, whom I love so MUCH! - I went outside to see my parents, and I had an emotional breakdown. I just started to cry, and my mom hugged me. That was the first time throughout the whole weekend that I had cried, and it was not a forced cry too. The muscles in my cheeks just shuttered, and my eyes welled up. I couldn't help it - it was just too much to handle! SO much emotion! I have never fallen in love with so many people in such a short amount of time in my whole entire life! The past three days I have hugged my mom before I go to school. The last time I did that WILLINGLY, and the last time that I WANTED to do that was 6 years ago when I was in elementary school! It's so amazing! I actually want to help my parents! I want to give the things back to them that they have given to me over my 15 years of life. Throughout the week, I have been telling kids about HOBY, and I have been trying to teach them the amazing things that I have learned from it, but no one can truly take in the emotional, and positive impacts of HOBY without a first hand experience with it.”
~Jeremy 2007, Ashby
2006 Alumni Testimonials
“My favorite thing about HOBY is the fact that it has become for me more than a three day experience, but a daily understanding and action within my life. I love that when I wrote about HOBY in my journal, I didnt say that the program brought out the best in me, but rather, that it is bringing out the best in me. There isnt a day that goes by that I dont think about what I learned at HOBY, that I dont use what I learned at HOBY, and that I dont spread the ENTHUSIASM for others that HOBY gave me.”
~Kelsey 2006, Middleboro
“I can’t truly say I fully remember life before HOBY, Three days, one hundred and fifty scholars, one MA HOBY Staff and a life altering experience. When other ask about HOBY I’m not really sure how to explain it or if it is even possible. We were complete strangers on Friday and life long friends by Sunday, how does that happen? The Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Program was has had an amazing impact on me. I have made the best and greatest of friends, but even Bigger than that has been my awareness of those around me and the world I live in.”
~Nisha 2006, Billerica
2005 Alumni Testimonials
“HOBY is one of the few places in our shallow and closed minded world today where they(the students) can be completely themselves and it is guaranteed that people will love them for that. HOBY allows teenagers of typical high school life, to break out of their shell and be the leaders that they can potentially be. HOBY was an experience for me that I had a hard time explaining to others, because there really aren't any words to describe it …. Nothing in my entire sixteen years on earth has ever had such an impact on my life. It is a memory that I will cherish forever. I feel closer to my HOBY friends than I do to my cousins sometimes. Everyone who goes to the seminar is just so truly amazing and special, and to be with those people again would be something indescribable. I love HOBY so much, so so so much. It is something I will always remember until my last day on earth, I really will NEVER forget those three days at Bentley College and how they made me become the person I am today.”
~Cam 2005, Longmeadow
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