Hey HOBY!
I’m Keemia, so lovely to meet you virtually and welcome you to HOBY Canada! I hope you are just excited as I am to see what’s in store for us over the next few years, and to be a part of positive change for ambassadors and alumni alike.
My first HOBY experience was as an ambassador at the 2015 Western Ontario 3-Day Seminar. That weekend was a turning point in my life - I remember arriving as a nervous, shy, and cautious grade 10 student, and leaving feeling empowered and confident in my abilities to be a leader. I returned the following year as an Alumni Representative, and the year after as a Junior Group Leader for my Peppy Purple Penguins! I also had the privilege of attending the World Leadership Congress in 2016 with some of my best friends to this day.
Since then, I have been a proud member of the Programs Team for Western Ontario, and joined the HOBY Canada Board of Directors as Secretary last year. I’m absolutely thrilled to continue my experience with HOBY as Vice President, and hope to share with all of you how much I love and believe in the work we’re doing.
To me, HOBY is a space we are empowered to be the best version of ourselves. There are so many
different kinds of leadership, all equally valuable, and best when working together. This is evident on our Board of Directors and the diverse projects we have on the go - this blog being one of them! HOBY has taught me how to lead with empathy, act with integrity, and that passionate people can achieve pretty much anything.
My favourite cheer is Sizzle, I’m a Yak in the Animal Leadership Inventory, and one of my absolute favourite places to be is a HOBY dance floor. I can safely say I wouldn’t be the person I am today without HOBY, and I’m so thankful for all the individuals who volunteer to make that magic happen for our ambassadors every year. You’re all outstanding!
Please feel free to reach out to me at vicepresident@hobycanada.org if you have any suggestions, would like to get involved, or just want to share your HOBY story. It’s an exciting time for HOBY Canada, full of growth and opportunities and challenges, and I’m looking forward to having you join us on the journey.
With love and hugs,
Keemia