WHY SHOULD YOU GO TO HOBY?
It’s rare that young people find out about HOBY UK alone. Usually, a teacher or organisation will recommend a student attends HOBY UK, and they’ll find out what happens when they’re there. But you may also be wondering, why should I come? It’s a valid question, and also shows a curiosity that we like to encourage in our young people. Walt Whitman said ‘Be curious, not judgemental’ – always ask questions before judging. We hope to answer some of those questions here.
THE PROGRAMME
The programme itself is world leading, and it does what it is designed to do. It makes young people more confident and more self assured, but it also doesn’t put them in a mould. We don’t want to make you into one type of person. We want to make sure that you are comfortable with the person you are, and to be more confident in showing that. Some people are quiet, some are loud – some are introverted, some extroverted – and all of them are valid.
THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE
It’s usually quite early for our young people to be thinking of the future, but even so, we think that the university experience that our residential seminars provide is really valuable. It’s a first hand way of showing young people what sort of rooms or lives they could have on campus, and we’ll also introduce you to university staff. It’s not about telling you what to do – just showing you an option first hand, so that the decision becomes easier for you
FRIENDS FOR LIFE
Attending a residential at HOBY UK means that you will create friendships that genuinely last for life. Sometimes, you’ll meet people in your own schools that you will barely have even spoken to before. And you’ll meet people from different places, communities, and even countries. And we know these friendships last for life because the volunteering team that runs HOBY UK is full of them – our seminars create bonds between people that can’t be broken.
THE HOBY FAMILY
Attending HOBY UK means you’ll join a vast network of HOBY alumnus across the world. There are over 500,000 HOBY alumnus, and attending just one seminar adds you to that network. Forming one connection in HOBY is like forming a connection in them all – you attend a seminar in the UK, and the next year you’re in Chicago, or Los Angeles.
‘HOBY has changed my life by making me way more confident then I ever thought I could be. I’ve made friends for life and unforgettable memories.’
– Jaime, alumnus of 2023
‘During the seminar I gained the skills to be more social and speak to people who I don’t know and I’ve learnt how I can be more confident, act like myself and I’ve learnt to try and think more positively about myself. ‘
– Lucy, alumnus of 2023
‘HOBY has unironically changed my life. I would have taken a very different path without it, and I’ll always be grateful to the power those comes with what HOBY UK teaches’
– Mike, alumnus of 2009
