HOBY opened my eyes to a lot of issues facing Florida, the nation, and the entire world; but above all it caused me to realize that we as individuals and leaders can, should, and will solve those issues. Before the conference I always assumed that the big problems of the world would somehow resolve themselves–a blind, unrealistic sense of optimism I had held for some time. But over the course of that weekend and the year that followed it dawned on me, really for the first time, that I, the other delegates, and this generation would be the ones to solve those problems. We would have to be, for there was simply no one else to do so. Which, I suppose, reinforces the reason for leadership programs like HOBY.

And, of course, I got to meet some pretty awesome people.”