thedrifter
07-10-09, 08:07 AM
Seminar urges teens to join global leaders
Thursday, July 09, 2009
By Margaret Smykla
Watching high school students teleconference with U.S. Marines stationed at the Al Taqaddum Airbase in Iraq was an eye-opening experience for David Barton.
"The soldiers talked about what life is like there, what they wish they had, and what they missed the most -- indoor plumbing.
"It was refreshing to see they were glad to be there, were comfortable, and in good shape," said Mr. Barton, 18, of Whitehall.
The teleconferencing was part of the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar held at Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, in June.
Founded in 1958 by the veteran actor known for his television series "Wyatt Earp," the nonprofit volunteer organization aims to inspire and develop youth to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.
The seminars bring together high school sophomores chosen by their guidance counselors to interact with leaders in business, government, education, and other fields.
The goal is to learn about the world's most pressing issues while enhancing their own leadership potential and pursuit of self-development.
At Washington and Jefferson, 116 students, called ambassadors, represented high schools throughout the 27-county Western Pennsylvania HOBY district.
"What I learned from the videoconferencing is the importance of having well-spoken and confident people as leaders in Iraq and in life in general who can communicate and inform," said Mr. Barton, a former ambassador who served this year as junior staff director.
While most of the participants are ranked in the top 15 percent of their class, the primary criteria for selection is leadership potential.
"We want ambassadors who are not afraid to ask questions," said Monica Shields, of McCandless, who serves on the HOBY board.
During the weekend seminar, ambassadors visited the Heinz Innovation Center and the Pittsburgh Playhouse, among others.
"With the Playhouse, we wanted them to think about behind-the-scenes jobs like lighting and direction as theater career options," Mrs. Shields said.
They also took part in a business panel with representatives of Western Pennsylvania enterprises, such as non-traditional agricultural fields.
"We wanted to show it is not all about running a family farm," said Mrs. Shields, who teaches in the School of Education at Duquesne University.
The students also volunteered at off-site venues, followed by participation in a panel about volunteerism.
"We talked about options available to them at ages 15 and 16 and challenged them to commit to 100 hours over the next year," Mrs. Shields said.
Mr. Barton, a 2009 graduate of Baldwin High School who will attend Georgetown University in the fall for pre-medical studies, said his involvement made him a better communicator.
"I learned how to think, not what to think," he said.
Mr. O'Brian has stated he was inspired to start the program after spending nine days working and speaking with humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
Dr. Schweitzer's message that "the most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves," helped form Mr. O'Brian's seminar.
Freelance writer Margaret Smykla can be reached in care of suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
First published on July 9, 2009 at 9:48 am
Ellie
Thursday, July 09, 2009
By Margaret Smykla
Watching high school students teleconference with U.S. Marines stationed at the Al Taqaddum Airbase in Iraq was an eye-opening experience for David Barton.
"The soldiers talked about what life is like there, what they wish they had, and what they missed the most -- indoor plumbing.
"It was refreshing to see they were glad to be there, were comfortable, and in good shape," said Mr. Barton, 18, of Whitehall.
The teleconferencing was part of the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar held at Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, in June.
Founded in 1958 by the veteran actor known for his television series "Wyatt Earp," the nonprofit volunteer organization aims to inspire and develop youth to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.
The seminars bring together high school sophomores chosen by their guidance counselors to interact with leaders in business, government, education, and other fields.
The goal is to learn about the world's most pressing issues while enhancing their own leadership potential and pursuit of self-development.
At Washington and Jefferson, 116 students, called ambassadors, represented high schools throughout the 27-county Western Pennsylvania HOBY district.
"What I learned from the videoconferencing is the importance of having well-spoken and confident people as leaders in Iraq and in life in general who can communicate and inform," said Mr. Barton, a former ambassador who served this year as junior staff director.
While most of the participants are ranked in the top 15 percent of their class, the primary criteria for selection is leadership potential.
"We want ambassadors who are not afraid to ask questions," said Monica Shields, of McCandless, who serves on the HOBY board.
During the weekend seminar, ambassadors visited the Heinz Innovation Center and the Pittsburgh Playhouse, among others.
"With the Playhouse, we wanted them to think about behind-the-scenes jobs like lighting and direction as theater career options," Mrs. Shields said.
They also took part in a business panel with representatives of Western Pennsylvania enterprises, such as non-traditional agricultural fields.
"We wanted to show it is not all about running a family farm," said Mrs. Shields, who teaches in the School of Education at Duquesne University.
The students also volunteered at off-site venues, followed by participation in a panel about volunteerism.
"We talked about options available to them at ages 15 and 16 and challenged them to commit to 100 hours over the next year," Mrs. Shields said.
Mr. Barton, a 2009 graduate of Baldwin High School who will attend Georgetown University in the fall for pre-medical studies, said his involvement made him a better communicator.
"I learned how to think, not what to think," he said.
Mr. O'Brian has stated he was inspired to start the program after spending nine days working and speaking with humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
Dr. Schweitzer's message that "the most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves," helped form Mr. O'Brian's seminar.
Freelance writer Margaret Smykla can be reached in care of suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
First published on July 9, 2009 at 9:48 am
Ellie