HOBY Conference –

Realizing A Potential For Leadership

By Tanjua Damon

Her charisma and willingness to communicate knowledge to peers are two aspects of Kristen McGrath’s character that sent her as an ambassador for Newtown High School to the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Conference recently.

Kristen is a sophomore at Newtown High School and was chosen by her peers to attend the four-day event in Vernon, according to Gwen Parks, chairman of the social studies department. Other factors that are considered when choosing a potential candidate include leadership potential and sensitivity to others.

“Her peers nominated her,” Ms Parks said. “She ended up being such an outstanding candidate.”

Representatives from over 100 high schools in Connecticut attended the conference. HOBY’s mission is to find, recognize, and develop leadership potential, and to encourage and prepare the next generation of civic and corporate leadership for America’s future.

Attendees of the conference listened to guest speakers who spoke about the workplace and media.

“We were offered different points of view. Different ways of looking at issues,” Kristen said. “I became more confident, to go up to someone and start a regular conversation.”

Kristen explained during the first day, the ambassadors were put into a room and had a checklist of questions about the students’ family or hair color. The students had to find people who could answer particular questions.

“The speakers taught us not what to speak but how to speak,” she said. “I always had my own beliefs, but I found out how and what other people think.”

One speaker, Rachelle Ripley, spoke about the rights of young people, according to Kristen. She was a woman who was part Native American and part Jewish. She discussed the differences between the cultures and having curfews, which Kristen said most of the participants were not in favor of.

“It was so overwhelming,” she said. “But I got so comfortable with myself.”

Kristen was also chosen to be an alternate ambassador for the World Leadership Congress 2001, to be held in July at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She had to go through an interview process and observations from HOBY alumni during the conference.

“The experience was unbelievable. Words couldn’t describe the fun I had,” Kristen said. “I got a lot of different ideas of what to do in the community. It was wonderful.”

She encouraged future candidates to go for it they are chosen.

“It’s the best weekend they will have in their entire life,” she said. “It’s the best of the best in Connecticut, people who do stuff for their school and are willing to do things for their community.”

Kristen was able to attend the conference with sponsorship by the Newtown Woman’s Club.

She is secretary of the student government at the high school. Kristen is also a member of the varsity field hockey team and the junior varsity lacrosse team.