Brookfield High School junior Lexie O’Brien spent part of her summer building leadership skills, forming new friendships and gaining a broader understanding of the world through the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program.
O’Brien was selected to represent Brookfield at a HOBY leadership seminar held at John Carroll University. Each participating school selects one incoming junior who demonstrates the potential to excel in a collaborative leadership environment.
According to Brookfield High School Guidance Counselor Lynn Pegg, O’Brien’s growth throughout her first two years of high school made her a natural choice.
“Lexie was very quiet during her freshman year, but she really opened up during her sophomore year and began demonstrating strong leadership qualities,” Pegg said. “That made her an easy choice to represent Brookfield.”
At the seminar, O’Brien worked with students from throughout Ohio. Although the participants arrived without knowing one another, they quickly began forming connections through team-building activities, lessons about resilience and challenges designed to strengthen their communication and leadership skills.
One of those activities was a “Survivor”-style challenge in which teams completed tasks to earn additional resources. The experience taught participants about teamwork, selflessness and the importance of using everyone’s strengths to reach a shared goal.
O’Brien enjoyed the seminar so much that she wanted to continue her HOBY experience by attending a national leadership trip in Washington, D.C. The trip cost approximately $2,000, so she applied for a scholarship by writing an essay explaining how she planned to use what she learned to give back to the Brookfield community. Brookfield Local Schools covered the remaining cost, allowing her to participate.
“We have sent students to HOBY in the past, but you could feel Lexie’s energy and enthusiasm when she talked about her experience,” Pegg said. “It was such a great opportunity for her, and we were determined to help her get to Washington, D.C. Our superintendent and treasurer were completely supportive of providing this experience for one of our students.”
The national trip brought together young leaders from across the United States and nine different countries.
“The D.C. trip was a wonderful experience, and I learned so much about the world around me,” O’Brien said. “I met people from Hong Kong and South Korea, Mexico, the United States, and I now have a best friend in California. Brookfield is a small town, so this experience really opened my eyes.”
O’Brien said one of the most valuable parts of HOBY was learning from people whose lives and experiences differed from her own.
“At HOBY, you never met someone who didn’t have a different story to tell,” she said. “The entire trip was a melting pot of people.”
The experience encouraged O’Brien to step outside her comfort zone and become more involved in her own community. She currently volunteers with the Animal Welfare League and hopes to expand her service by helping at local food pantries and shelters.
“Brookfield is a really small community, and there is limited diversity here,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes we keep to ourselves more than we should. This trip taught me how important it is to put yourself out there. I also realized that I could be doing more to serve others.”
As she looks toward the future, O’Brien plans to continue developing the confidence and leadership skills she gained through HOBY. She hopes to pursue a pre-medical education, attend the University of Pittsburgh, and eventually become a doctor.
For O’Brien, the summer was more than an opportunity to travel. It showed her how meeting new people, listening to their stories, and serving others can make a lasting difference, both personally and within her community.