This summer, Country School proudly hosted the Harvard Model Congress Young Leaders Workshop, an immersive, five-day experience designed to cultivate thoughtful, confident, and ethical leadership in students from across the country. Twenty-one students in grades six through ten, representing seven different schools, came together to learn, grow, and lead in The Country School's own Elmore Library.
From the very first day, students jumped into a thoughtfully structured program led by two extraordinary Harvard mentors: Hyunsoo Lee, a sophomore from Seoul majoring in Economics, and Onovu Otitigbe, a recent graduate from Albany, NY, who studied both Biochemical Engineering and the History of Science, with a minor in Theatre. With warmth, humor, and wisdom, Hyunsoo and Onovu guided students through a blend of collaborative activities, public speaking workshops, and introspective challenges.
Throughout the week, students explored key questions: What kind of leader am I? How do I make ethical decisions? How can I use my voice with impact?
They analyzed rhetorical strategies, debated real-world dilemmas, studied personality theory, and reflected on the distinction between power over others and power for others. Each day offered a mix of challenge and camaraderie, one moment filled with laughter and quick thinking, the next with personal discovery and deep thought.
The final two days shifted focus toward the future. Students learned about the college application process, explored how to write standout résumés and compelling college essays, and practiced articulating their goals and stories with clarity and confidence.
The workshop culminated in a Shark Tank-style pitch session before a standing-room-only audience of families and community members. The students did not disappoint as they tried to intrigue the curiosity–and bank accounts–of the sharks (Onovu, Hyunsoo, Mr. McDonough, Director of Middle School). Their proposals included:
- Weather&Wardrobe, an app that matches your wardrobe with the weather and your calendar to ensure you’re dressed for every occasion
- SleepStopper3000, a scent- and light-based alarm clock designed to wake users gently and naturally
- Calm Crate, a sensory-safe space for children to self-regulate during moments of stress
- Compassion Kitchen, a restaurant that repurposes food waste to serve free meals to those in need
- Quickstrument, an app that helps kids learn instruments more effectively
- Aigialosaurus, a software that encrypts and protects artists' original works from being stolen by AI
- College Football Rabbit Hole, a tool to make college football stats more accessible and engaging for new fans
Each project reflected the ingenuity, empathy, and leadership these students cultivated throughout the week.
In the words of Country School 8th Grader Veronica Schmid, “I loved learning how to debate and barter. The Meyers-Briggs and Shark Tank workshops were my favorite parts of the workshop.”
It was a powerful week of discovery, connection, and purpose, and one that leaves us deeply hopeful for the future these young leaders will help shape.
