English Groundwork

The first impression that I got as I arrived to HOBY was, oh my lanta, get me outta here, these people are nuts. When you first arrive at HOBY, there are people running at you and your car, screaming and welcoming you. This was a little much for me at 8:00 a.m. I soon then realized that this place could be fun. No one knew me, I could break out of my shell, not worry about what anyone knew about me, or thought about me, because they didn't know! HOBY is a place where students come to be themselves. There is only one student from each school in Indiana, so they may know someone from another school, but it is unlikely. I then learned about volunteering at HOBY and I was in love. Volunteering made me feel so great, it was like I was high on volunteering, and nothing was bringing me down. The people around me were passionate about what they were doing, and it made me want to be more passionate.

As I entered HOBY, I felt overwhelmed. People running and screaming, being so enthusiastic, I wasn't sure what to expect for the weekend. As I got settled in my room I realized that I could make this place great, so all of a sudden I wasn't overwhelmed anymore, i was excited. I was excited to see what the weekend had a head of me, of the people i would meet, and of what i would find out about myself. Once we started our volunteer projects and heard panels about volunteering, I was anxious to start my volunteer work, and keep at it for a while.

I am an insider at HOBY and as a volunteer, now but I wasn't before i went to HOBY. If you have never been to HOBY, you are automatically an outsider, it is something that you must experience before you can become an insider, and really understand what HOBY is all about. I am still an outsider in some ways, but not as I was before. I would say that I am an "outsider" to the "administration" of HOBY. The adult staff and executive board are basically the administration of HOBY, and I have not had inside access to either one of those. As a volunteer, you are either an outsider or insider, either a volunteer or not a volunteer. I would say that many people are insiders without even realizing it, some people are just more passionate about it than others.