Students:
Hi, I'm Andrew. I'm 16 and a junior at Hudson High School. In school, I enjoy learning about history and government, and am also an avid writer. Outside of the classroom, I can be found golfing, hiking, and playing recreational sports. I applied to JLH to become a more well-rounded individual and to pursue new opportunities. I knew this would prepare me for the real world by showcasing various careers and providing several leadership skills. As I progress onto college, I plan on pursuing something political, perhaps law or political science.
Hi! I'm Emily and I'm proud to say that I am a member of Junior Leadership Hudson. It taught me that leadership is not just a single role, you have to be willing to work, listen, and help others. I am 17 and a junior at Hudson High School . I played on the girl's soccer team for two years and loved every second of it. I'm also apart of Key Club and enjoy the time spent volunteering, especially in winter time when we do the Salvation Army bell ringing. In my free time I like to read, go on hikes, play soccer, play volleyball, draw some sketches, and bake delicious goods. Also, I love being apart of this JLH family; this group also helps to set future goals and think about what major decisions we will have to make in the long run. We are always willing to tell you about our great experiences with Junior Leadership Hudson!
My name is Erica and I am a sophomore at Hudson High School. In school, I am an honors student with a passion for music and science. Chamber orchestra, drama club, Student Government, Lifeteen, STEM Science Fairs, and field hockey are a few of my extracurricular activities. I applied for JLH to expand my leadership skills, learn about different careers, and work with new people. In the future, I see myself studying chemistry or engineering in college and living in California. I plan on using the skills and experiences I gained from JLH to help me throughout my life.
Hey! My name is Grace and I'm a junior at Hudson High School. I've loved being apart of JLH because it's taught me different skills about leadership and the value of teamwork. Since I want to pursue a business a degree this program gave me a great outlook on the Business world. Different programs that I am currently involved in consist of are jazz band, choir, chamber choir, and drama club.
I'm Nicole, a sophomore at Hudson High School. I am a member of Jazz 1, Wind Symphony, Chamber Choir, and Swing Choir. I am also involved in Student Government, STEM Science Fairs and NEOSEF, Lifeteen, and a recreational softball team. I learned about JLH through my father, a previous Leadership Hudson member, and applied because it appeared to be the perfect opportunity to expand my leadership skills and educate myself about what career paths may be right for me. In the future, I imagine myself with a job that combines my interest in business, psychology, biology, music, and working with people.
My name is Ellie and I am a proud member of Junior Leadership Hudson 2013-2014. I am a tenth grade honors student at Hudson High School. I enjoy participating in athletics such as cross-country and lacrosse. During the summer I dedicate volunteer work to mentor middle-school age kids in their faith. My future will hopefully include creative arts and a study of the mind through psycho-analysis. Junior Leadership Hudson is a privilege and rewarding experience to explore leadership and career paths. My goal for the future of this group is that it becomes more public and continues to grab the interests of young leaders. With a program like this, the approaching path holds endless opportunity.
Hi, I'm Lori! I am a junior at Hudson High School. I chose to be a part of Junior Leadership Hudson because I was eager to work with peers from a different school, my teacher had recommended it to me, and I had heard from past JLH students such positive things about the program. I am a student government representative for the class of 2015, a part of my schools anti-bullying club, a singer in choir as well as chamber choir, and I am very involved within my church youth group, Lifeteen. After I graduate, I hope to major in mass communications.
Hi! My name is Patrick and I'm a sophomore at Hudson High School. I'm also a proud member of Junior Leadership, Student Government, and the Hudson High School Swimming and Diving Team. This year Junior Leadership has taught me about working with others and how to communicate efficiently.
My name is Xingyu (Jake) Ha and I am a sophomore at Western Reserve Academy. I am interested in Math, Economics, and Science and have been involved in many clubs and competitions regarding to these fields. I feel very fortunate to be a part of Junior Leadership Hudson. It is a great opportunity for me to explore various professions and to improve my leadership skills. We have been to different institutions and met many successful and unique people. JLH has broadened my horizon and helped me gain the confidence needed to become a leader both now and into the future.
My name is Tess Pacer and I am a junior at Western Reserve Academy. I decided to apply to JLH because I was interested in both the opportunity to meet with professionals from all different sorts of fields, as well as to improve leadership skills. I am definitely interested in the medical field, so the chance to visit the Austen Bio Innovation Institute in Akron was very cool! Apart from JLH I am also passionate about Model UN and have traveled to Brown and Cornell University during my high school years to participate in the higher level conferences hosted there.
My name is Katie Chlysta and I'm a student at Western Reserve Academy. I first became interested in Junior Leadership Hudson when I saw all of the businesses that JLH visits. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit places like the Cleveland Clinic and Austen BioInnovation. My favorite part of Junior Leadership Hudson has been listening to professionals share what they believe to be the most important aspect of leadership and success. Outside of school I enjoy swimming and playing volleyball. I’m involved in band as well as our school’s community service organization. After high school, I plan on pursuing a career in medicine.
Hi, my name is Mika Takahashi and I am a junior at Western Reserve Academy. I applied to Junior Leadership because I am very interested in the marketing aspect of business and wanted the opportunity to visit different types of work places. Besides being a member of the Girl’s Cross Country Team, I am a professional ballerina with Ballet Theatre of Ohio and enjoy traveling the world. I hope to major in Media and Communications at New York University.
My name is Lanruo (Lynn) Yang and I am a sophomore at Western Reserve Academy. I currently participate in robotics club, Model United Nation, service trips to the Dominican Republic and the Pine Ridge Reservation. Junior Leadership Hudson is a great opportunity for me to know how leadership works in real life in terms of changing the society by government, entrepreneurial leadership, and enterprise. It also helps improve my own leadership and build connections and relationships that will help me in the future. I would like to pursue a career in international law and politics in the future.
Hello I am Taylor Hardy, a current junior at Western Reserve Academy. I am very interested in photography and economics. I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Only being a junior in high school I have a lot of time until I choose my career but I am already thinking. I am very interested in the business world and am fortunate of having the opportunity of listening to successful entrepreneurs speak about their daily lives. I want to be one of those people talking to JLH students one day. I joined Junior Leadership Hudson because leadership plays a major role in my life. I am not a follower and never want to be just known as a follower; I am a leader and leaders do amazing things with their lives.
I'm Barnabas Wang and I'm an international student from China. I joined Reserve in 2012 as a freshman, and I am a junior this year. My favorite subjects at WRA are economics and calculus. I will be the captain of the varsity golf team next year. I joined JLH because I'm always interested in being a leader. I had great experience from each JLH's field trip: for instance, we visited Cleveland Clinic, BioInovation, and many other excellent business institutions, and learned so much about how to be a strong leader and co-worker. With these take-aways, I think I will be a better leader in the further. I strongly encourage all of you to apply for this program: you will meet great people and learn great stuff.
My name is Xingyu (Jake) Ha and I am a sophomore at Western Reserve Academy. I am interested in Math, Economics, and Science and have been involved in many clubs and competitions regarding to these fields. I feel very fortunate to be a part of Junior Leadership Hudson. It is a great opportunity for me to explore various professions and to improve my leadership skills. We have been to different institutions and met many successful and unique people. JLH has broadened my horizon and helped me gain the confidence needed to become a leader both now and into the future.
My name is Tess Pacer and I am a junior at Western Reserve Academy. I decided to apply to JLH because I was interested in both the opportunity to meet with professionals from all different sorts of fields, as well as to improve leadership skills. I am definitely interested in the medical field, so the chance to visit the Austen Bio Innovation Institute in Akron was very cool! Apart from JLH I am also passionate about Model UN and have traveled to Brown and Cornell University during my high school years to participate in the higher level conferences hosted there.
My name is Katie Chlysta and I'm a student at Western Reserve Academy. I first became interested in Junior Leadership Hudson when I saw all of the businesses that JLH visits. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit places like the Cleveland Clinic and Austen BioInnovation. My favorite part of Junior Leadership Hudson has been listening to professionals share what they believe to be the most important aspect of leadership and success. Outside of school I enjoy swimming and playing volleyball. I’m involved in band as well as our school’s community service organization. After high school, I plan on pursuing a career in medicine.
Hi, my name is Mika Takahashi and I am a junior at Western Reserve Academy. I applied to Junior Leadership because I am very interested in the marketing aspect of business and wanted the opportunity to visit different types of work places. Besides being a member of the Girl’s Cross Country Team, I am a professional ballerina with Ballet Theatre of Ohio and enjoy traveling the world. I hope to major in Media and Communications at New York University.
My name is Lanruo (Lynn) Yang and I am a sophomore at Western Reserve Academy. I currently participate in robotics club, Model United Nation, service trips to the Dominican Republic and the Pine Ridge Reservation. Junior Leadership Hudson is a great opportunity for me to know how leadership works in real life in terms of changing the society by government, entrepreneurial leadership, and enterprise. It also helps improve my own leadership and build connections and relationships that will help me in the future. I would like to pursue a career in international law and politics in the future.
Hello I am Taylor Hardy, a current junior at Western Reserve Academy. I am very interested in photography and economics. I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Only being a junior in high school I have a lot of time until I choose my career but I am already thinking. I am very interested in the business world and am fortunate of having the opportunity of listening to successful entrepreneurs speak about their daily lives. I want to be one of those people talking to JLH students one day. I joined Junior Leadership Hudson because leadership plays a major role in my life. I am not a follower and never want to be just known as a follower; I am a leader and leaders do amazing things with their lives.
I'm Barnabas Wang and I'm an international student from China. I joined Reserve in 2012 as a freshman, and I am a junior this year. My favorite subjects at WRA are economics and calculus. I will be the captain of the varsity golf team next year. I joined JLH because I'm always interested in being a leader. I had great experience from each JLH's field trip: for instance, we visited Cleveland Clinic, BioInovation, and many other excellent business institutions, and learned so much about how to be a strong leader and co-worker. With these take-aways, I think I will be a better leader in the further. I strongly encourage all of you to apply for this program: you will meet great people and learn great stuff.
Advisors:
My name is Bryan Bedford and I am currently the Unit Principal for all Juniors and Seniors with last names A-Ham at Hudson High School. Previous to this year, I was a Guidance Counselor at Brecksville-Broadview Heights for six years and an Academic Advisor at Kent State University for three years working through the Provost Office and Undergraduate Studies. I have always enjoyed working with students and assisting in their overall development as leaders and change-agents across many different career fields. As one of the advisors of Junior Leadership Hudson, I have been very fortunate to work with a great group of young men and women who are all aspiring leaders in the professional world in many different arenas. I am excited about the coming years of this program and the difference the students will continue to make both in school and throughout the community…and for the reader’s motivational file:
Honestly, you are right. It is easier to sit at home than to work and improve your life. It’s easier to turn to food, drugs, and entertainment rather than friends, family, teachers and coaches for support. It’s easier to say “skip it, I give up” then to say “skip this, I can do it!” So you know what? I’m not going to sit here and tell you day after day you can do it. If you don’t believe you can, then you can’t. That’s the honest truth. You need to improve for you. And if you don’t want it enough, then you definitely won’t achieve it. So take the easy way out and remain unmotivated… continue to remain complacent because you can’t realize you are the only one hurting yourself…continue to point the finger at everyone else and refuse to hold a mirror up in front of you each and every day. I’m not saying things will be easy. I’m saying they will be worth it. The unfortunate reality is that your goals and what you define as success may not come when you want it to…it will come when you least expect it. It may come in a different form than you are planning it to be. The question is are you willing to give everything, every second, of every day not knowing how things will work out for you? Keep in mind the alternative is watching yourself not get better, watching life pass you by, and you one day reflecting back to this moment when you had the opportunity to change everything moving forward!
It’s YOUR choice…
Honestly, you are right. It is easier to sit at home than to work and improve your life. It’s easier to turn to food, drugs, and entertainment rather than friends, family, teachers and coaches for support. It’s easier to say “skip it, I give up” then to say “skip this, I can do it!” So you know what? I’m not going to sit here and tell you day after day you can do it. If you don’t believe you can, then you can’t. That’s the honest truth. You need to improve for you. And if you don’t want it enough, then you definitely won’t achieve it. So take the easy way out and remain unmotivated… continue to remain complacent because you can’t realize you are the only one hurting yourself…continue to point the finger at everyone else and refuse to hold a mirror up in front of you each and every day. I’m not saying things will be easy. I’m saying they will be worth it. The unfortunate reality is that your goals and what you define as success may not come when you want it to…it will come when you least expect it. It may come in a different form than you are planning it to be. The question is are you willing to give everything, every second, of every day not knowing how things will work out for you? Keep in mind the alternative is watching yourself not get better, watching life pass you by, and you one day reflecting back to this moment when you had the opportunity to change everything moving forward!
It’s YOUR choice…
My name is Charles (Chuck) Wiede and I was hired as the City of Hudson’s first full-time Economic Development Director in 2008. Prior to becoming involved in economic development, I held management positions in logistic, labor, sales, and recruiting. I am proud to have been a part of the Leadership Hudson class, 2008-2009, that created the Junior Leadership program. There are numerous things from an advisors perspective to like about the Junior Leadership program. One of the most rewarding aspects has been watching the collaboration between Hudson High School and Western Reserve Academy students.
My name is Jan Neff and as a graduate of Miami University (Ohio), I have been teaching Business and Computer Science classes at Hudson High School since 1994. I earned my Masters in Instructional Technology and my Computer Endorsement from Kent State University many years ago. In addition to my involvement with Junior Leadership Hudson, I am a Co-Advisor for Hudson High School’s Student Government.
Whether it’s visiting Ohio’s Supreme Court, talking with a world-renowned researcher at Cleveland Clinic, going behind the scenes at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, or touring Cleveland’s Progressive Field, JLH students are exposed to many different leadership styles and introduced to many different company executives all year long. In addition, long-lasting relationships between WRA students and HHS students grow. During these sessions and throughout the year, the spark that ignites within JLH members is priceless! I am very happy to be a part of this wonderful organization.
My name is Kim Barsella I have been involved in JLH for the past 4 years. I love the time I get to spend with the WRA and Hudson students outside of the classroom and I also enjoy working with my fellow JLH adult leaders. My favorite thing about JLH is that the students get to meet and learn from such a vast array of leaders in many different fields and then they get to use these new found leadership and networking skills in their own class project.
My name is Kathy Cybulski and I am a retired teacher/media specialist from Hudson High School. I became involved with Junior Leadership Hudson when I was HHS Student Government Advisor and, after retiring from the Hudson City Schools, chose to continue as a JLH advisor. This is my fourth year with JLH. I am an active member of League of Women Voters Hudson and Rotary Clocktower Hudson.
“Our JLH students are afforded an opportunity for growth and discovery that is incredible. Leaders from business, government, medicine and the arts throughout northeastern Ohio have generously given their time and insights to help these students as they grow in their leadership skills. I wish every student could have this experience.”
My name is Justin Zimmerman and I have been involved in JLH for the past two years. I am currently the Dean of Student Life at Western Reserve Academy. I thoroughly enjoy working with JLH. Watching Hudson High School and Western Reserve Academy students interact and learn about leadership, life, and careers in fun and memorable ways is always rewarding. I feel lucky to be a part of such a wonderful group, and have personally enjoyed learning about many different companies and organizations throughout northeast Ohio.
My name is Jan Neff and as a graduate of Miami University (Ohio), I have been teaching Business and Computer Science classes at Hudson High School since 1994. I earned my Masters in Instructional Technology and my Computer Endorsement from Kent State University many years ago. In addition to my involvement with Junior Leadership Hudson, I am a Co-Advisor for Hudson High School’s Student Government.
Whether it’s visiting Ohio’s Supreme Court, talking with a world-renowned researcher at Cleveland Clinic, going behind the scenes at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, or touring Cleveland’s Progressive Field, JLH students are exposed to many different leadership styles and introduced to many different company executives all year long. In addition, long-lasting relationships between WRA students and HHS students grow. During these sessions and throughout the year, the spark that ignites within JLH members is priceless! I am very happy to be a part of this wonderful organization.
My name is Kim Barsella I have been involved in JLH for the past 4 years. I love the time I get to spend with the WRA and Hudson students outside of the classroom and I also enjoy working with my fellow JLH adult leaders. My favorite thing about JLH is that the students get to meet and learn from such a vast array of leaders in many different fields and then they get to use these new found leadership and networking skills in their own class project.
My name is Kathy Cybulski and I am a retired teacher/media specialist from Hudson High School. I became involved with Junior Leadership Hudson when I was HHS Student Government Advisor and, after retiring from the Hudson City Schools, chose to continue as a JLH advisor. This is my fourth year with JLH. I am an active member of League of Women Voters Hudson and Rotary Clocktower Hudson.
“Our JLH students are afforded an opportunity for growth and discovery that is incredible. Leaders from business, government, medicine and the arts throughout northeastern Ohio have generously given their time and insights to help these students as they grow in their leadership skills. I wish every student could have this experience.”
My name is Justin Zimmerman and I have been involved in JLH for the past two years. I am currently the Dean of Student Life at Western Reserve Academy. I thoroughly enjoy working with JLH. Watching Hudson High School and Western Reserve Academy students interact and learn about leadership, life, and careers in fun and memorable ways is always rewarding. I feel lucky to be a part of such a wonderful group, and have personally enjoyed learning about many different companies and organizations throughout northeast Ohio.