Torrance CA (July 15, 2015): Last month, seven outstanding BMHS sophomores attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar for the Los Angeles region (HOBY LA) at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Chosen for their leadership in extra-curricular clubs and organizations as well as the classroom, these students represented the “third generation” of Bishop Montgomery HOBY attendees: Carlos Bernal '17, Emilie Bero '17, Natsuki Hishinuma '17, Angelo Pasco '17, Joshua Rhilinger '17, Simon Tran '17, Stephanie Trelease '17, and Nora Ward '17. (Bero was unable to attend due to an ACL injury.) In addition, HOBY LA alumni Lourdes Lidzarbski ’16, Christine Petersen’16, Tommy Rocca ’16, James Serrano ’16 and Alex Rodriguez ’15 participated as Junior Staff members / Day Volunteers, and Mrs. Milana McDermott, Bishop’s Dean of Student Life, served as one of the seminar’s facilitators.
The eighteen students who participated in the HOBY LA 2015 seminar are an accomplished group, with leadership positions in student government; Knightlife, Bishop's newspaper; Key Club; National Honor Society; VCYC; JSA, and Bishop sports teams. Eight have been recognized as a Bishop Montgomery Student of the Semester. Outside of Bishop Montgomery, many are members of other youth leadership organizations including The Association of Catholic Student Councils (TACSC), the Christian Leadership Institute, Girls’ State, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Youth Leadership Institute.
The seven sophomore attendees all agreed that HOBY was a life-changing experience. Hishinuma, a leader on Bishop’s junior varsity volleyball team, says she learned that “a leader should not only be an example, but also someone who cares for others and can make others into leaders.” She came away from the event with a new way to look at her role as a leader: “HOBY gave me a totally different perspective-- I want to be that person who will always be there for someone.” Rhilinger’s thoughts also reflect what most of the ambassadors gained from the seminar: “[HOBY] forced me to dig deep inside myself and discover things I never knew about myself before. HOBY unlocked more [in] me than I knew existed. I didn't change at all; I am still me. I am just more me. HOBY changed my life by helping me discover my true self and fullest potential.”
The highlight of the seminar was when Carlos Bernal was awarded a scholarship to attend HOBY’s World Leadership Congress (WLC), a seven-day event in Chicago for student leaders from around the globe. Bernal was nominated by his group’s facilitator and underwent a highly-selective interview process with members of the HOBY LA board. Bernal is the first Bishop student ever selected to attend the WLC and was extremely surprised to receive the honor. “I was just sitting down during closing ceremonies… Matt Markalis [the HOBY Leadership Seminar Chair] was describing the person about to get the scholarship, and I was so pumped because I thought, ‘Wow, that person probably really deserves it!’” shares Bernal. “I was certain that it was never going to be me… I feel blessed that I get to represent Bishop and my HOBY family from Bishop at such a huge event like WLC. I’m glad I can participate in this and can’t wait to make Bishop proud!” Bernal is a member of Bishop’s varsity football and ComedySportz Improv teams, and has excelled in numerous honors classes. In January, he completed his final project to become an Eagle Scout with the Boys Scouts of America.
The HOBY LA 2015 seminar proved not only to be special for Bishop’s HOBY attendees, but for Bishop’s HOBY alumni volunteers as well. The experience provided them the opportunity to continue their leadership development and hone valuable skills for their futures, while mentoring the newest members of Bishop’s HOBY group. As a result, all of the students became much more than a committee-- they became a small family. Rodriguez jokes that he’s often called “HOBY Grandpa” by the third generation and shares that he has “become like a mentor for most of the juniors and sophomores." He says that "watching them embrace HOBY and realize their leadership potential was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.” Serrano, a HOBY LA 2014 alumnus and HOBY LA 2015 Junior Staff member, notes, “Being a junior staff member at this year's seminar [was] immensely more rewarding than I could ever imagine.” He adds, “It's such a phenomenal feeling to see that ‘a-ha’ moment in [the ambassadors’ faces] when they realize that nothing is impossible for them.”
-- by Alex Rodriguez '15