The 2005 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Texas Gulf Coast conference will start on Friday morning, June 3rd. For me, however, it has already started. I have been calling my kids and getting stuff together for them for the past several weeks. This weekend, I will no longer be Ryan Riley. I will be Ryan Riley, Team Leader of the Wookiees!
HOBY is always fun for me. This will be my sixth year to do the Texas Gulf Coast seminar (once as an Ambassador, thrice as a JC, and now twice as a Team Leader). For those who don’t know, HOBY is a seminar that brings in one student from the surrounding area (yes, even as far as Bridge City, TX) who has just finished their sophomore year of high school and assigns them to a group of seven or eight other students, then throws various, real-world scenarios at them and asks them to discuss and make decisions.
There are panels of experts for each major topic (which range from education to space exploration). The students listen to the panelists varying views and then are asked to evaluate the information they’ve received and come up with a solution or stance on the topic. The students are able to ask panelists questions and talk with them in their teams. There are also various brain puzzles throughout the weekend, as well as silly camp-like cheers and yells.
The latter has become one of my favorite parts. Not that I don’t like watching students develop thoughtfulness before my eyes, but seeing people of all ages enjoying life and acting like little kids always brings joy to my heart. "They" (there you go Dovie) say that laughter is the best medicine, and I would have to say that it certainly helps the sleep deprivation that we get during the weekend. I wish there were more opportunities in life to express our "inner child." Mine gets bored… a lot! 
Speaking of which, please pray for my time in the Word, sanity, and health this weekend. I always come out of HOBY exhausted, both mentally and physically, and end up getting sick. I also find my time in the Word diminished. This being a secular leadership program, I need the strength that I get from being fed through God’s Word all the more.
I’m looking forward to it, though. I’ll let you know how it goes when I get back! I’ll see some of you on Sunday night!
5 Comments
This is a great summary that helps explain it a LOT!
I know this sleep deprivation from personal experience, and I’ll definitely be keeping you in my prayers! I remember that it seemed that as soon as I finished bed checks and got my shower, I’d crawl into bed and 5 minutes later, the alarm was telling me that my students would be waiting on me to wake them up very soon!
The awesome thing about HOBY (besides what you’ve already mentioned with the silliness and getting to watch kids “grow before your eyes”) is that you get a chance to build a relationship with those 8 (or in my case, 9) kids and then you have the opportunity to keep in touch with them and pour into them for the next year.
All 3 years that I participated in HOBY, I was able to share my faith with all of my kids and my JCs. In several cases, I was able to get a lot deeper with the kids from my group and really get to the heart of what they believed and share with them the reason for my beliefs. It’s amazing how much that one little weekend does to build the kind of relationship with these kids where they are really open to what you have to say and will open up to you as well.
So, along with praying for your sleep and your time in the Word and with the Lord, I’ll be praying for the relationships you’re building with those kids! I know many of them need the light of Jesus Christ in their lives, and I’m so excited to know that you will be there to share it with them!
hey, well hoby was the greatest thing that ever happened to me besides the whole being born thing. since hoby, i feel weird knowing that my new family is not here with me but soon i will see them again and with a new energized way. there is one more thing that have to say. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeee you ryan and i will always miss you man.
Now why would you miss me? Are you thinking we’re probably not going to catch up at a reunion or CLEW or something?! Goodness!
I will be around, my friend, and I’m sure I’ll see you sooner than you think, if the Lord wills.
Im sorry i forgot all about it, I got caught on the moment. It just, I had a great time goin to hoby, and now I have a family that will always be there for me. Im glad I was your ambassador, im glad your my TL. Soon, and I mean soon, I will return to the wookie family.