1. HOBY stands for Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership.
I won't tell you the whole story, but basically, this really famous Hollywood Western film star went to Africa, had a life-changing experience, and a Nobel prize winner asked him, "What are you going to do with this?" Boom. HOBY.
2. The "HOBY High" is a real thing...
HOBY's tagline is "Empower. Lead. Excel." and when people come back, they want to do just that. If you know someone that went, don't be surprised if they're suddenly super proactive and going on long rants about how they want to somehow save their small corner of the world.
3. And the HOBY Hangover is even more real.
Most people will be super hype on the car ride home from their seminar, and then crash and sleep for 15 hours. There is no time for resting when you're learning how to change the world. Let the children enjoy a very long, well-deserved nap.
4. Being on A-Team is the most fulfilling experience you can have as a young adult.
You literally get to watch as a group of 10 high schoolers learn that the world is much bigger than their little corner, and that they have the power to change it. This is probably the first time in their lives that adults are telling them YES instead of no. Also, you get to dress up in blue and scream at teenagers at 7 am to be enthusiastic. The tears are very real.
5. Your friends who come back will probably have no voice.
Cheering is a NECESSARY part of the HOBY experience. We have funky chickens, burritos, booty shaking, and a whole lot of little red wagons. Embrace it.
6. HOBY is the easiest way to get connected with people when you enter a new environment.
The first few days of college will literally be a breeze if you wear a HOBY shirt. You might even feel the breeze in your hips. Or your lips.
7. HOBY has, will, and does change lives.
You might think your friends are disappearing for three days to go to some whack camp where people dressed in blue scream at them and they have to dress all nice but at the same time have no clue what they're getting themselves into. And all of that is true. But it changes who they are. It may not happen while they're there, but at some point in their lives, they will figure out what HOBY meant to them. And then that will change everything.
