Inside the walls of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, a group of Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School students spent Wednesday, Feb. 25, confronting history and examining their own role in shaping the future.
Heather McCarthy, media specialist at Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School, and Desiree Buentello, a seventh grade social studies teacher, accompanied selected students to the museum’s Student Leadership Day in Skokie. The full-day immersive program was designed for middle school students who were ready to step into leadership roles within their schools and communities.
Student Leadership Day challenged participants to explore their roles as active, responsible citizens, consider perspectives different from their own and develop tools to stand up against injustice. Throughout the day, students took part in guest speaker sessions, small group dialogue, reflection exercises and peer collaboration.
“Our trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center was inspired by our commitment to developing student leaders who understand both history and their responsibility in the present,” McCarthy said. “We were specifically drawn to the Museum’s Student Leadership Day because it does more than teach history. It equips students with practical tools to engage in meaningful dialogue across differences, reflect on their own values and choices, and develop the courage to stand up for others.”
McCarthy said students were selected because they demonstrated empathy, curiosity and the potential to positively influence their peers. The experience aligned with the school’s goal of empowering young people not just to learn about history, but to apply its lessons in their own hallways, classrooms and communities.
This year’s keynote speaker, Harold Green III, used poetry and storytelling to help students connect emotionally and personally to themes of identity, empathy and moral courage. By the end of the program, McCarthy said, students left with increased confidence, self-awareness and practical strategies to promote acceptance and human rights.
Among the learning outcomes, McCarthy pointed to increased empathy and perspective-taking.
“Through dialogue and structured activities, students engage with peers from diverse schools and backgrounds. They practice listening to perspectives different from their own,” she said.
The program also built students’ sense of self-efficacy.
“The program intentionally builds students’ confidence. They begin to see themselves not as bystanders, but as individuals capable of influencing their school culture. Many leave recognizing that leadership is a daily choice, not a position,” McCarthy said.
Students said the experience left a lasting impression.
“The social media presentation was phenomenal,” said Adrian Ochoa-Raya, 13, of Oak Lawn. “It helped us understand our rights as people, even in a world where there is so much fear and conflict. We all have rights and freedoms that deserve to be protected.”
“I loved listening to the other students from different schools,” said Ava Kate Peterson, 12, of Oak Lawn. “Their ideas made me feel hopeful and showed me that the future is in good hands.”
Aurora Rosalee Beaver, 12, of Oak Lawn, said she found the human rights discussions especially meaningful.
“I thought it was really interesting to learn about our human rights and which ones matter most to my peers,” she said.
Bree Mary Beyer, 13, of Hometown, said the connections stood out.
“The best part of the field trip was meeting students from other schools,” she said. “It made me realize how connected we all are, even when we come from different places.”
Buentello said the trip directly supported the school’s social studies curriculum, particularly in civic responsibility, democratic values, human rights and global citizenship, as well as its social-emotional learning goals.
“It’s important for students to understand their rights so that as they process the world around them, they can confidently stand up for what they believe in,” Buentello said.
Back at Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School, the students returned not only with new knowledge, but as ambassadors expected to model inclusion, address bias and help foster a respectful school culture.
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Inside the walls of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, a group of Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School students confronted history and examined their own role in shaping the future.
Heather McCarthy, media specialist at Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School, and Desiree Buentello, a seventh grade social studies teacher, accompanied selected students to the museum’s Student Leadership Day in Skokie on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The full-day immersive program was designed for middle school students who were ready to step into leadership roles within their schools and communities.
Student Leadership Day challenged participants to explore their roles as active, responsible citizens, consider perspectives different from their own and develop tools to stand up against injustice. Throughout the day, students took part in guest speaker sessions, small group dialogue, reflection exercises and peer collaboration.
“Our trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center was inspired by our commitment to developing student leaders who understand both history and their responsibility in the present,” McCarthy said. “We were specifically drawn to the Museum’s Student Leadership Day because it does more than teach history. It equips students with practical tools to engage in meaningful dialogue across differences, reflect on their own values and choices, and develop the courage to stand up for others.”
McCarthy said students were selected because they demonstrated empathy, curiosity and the potential to positively influence their peers. The experience aligned with the school’s goal of empowering young people not just to learn about history, but to apply its lessons in their own hallways, classrooms and communities.
This year’s keynote speaker, Harold Green III, used poetry and storytelling to help students connect emotionally and personally to themes of identity, empathy and moral courage. By the end of the program, McCarthy said, students left with increased confidence, self-awareness and practical strategies to promote acceptance and human rights.
Among the learning outcomes, McCarthy pointed to increased empathy and perspective-taking.
“Through dialogue and structured activities, students engage with peers from diverse schools and backgrounds. They practice listening to perspectives different from their own,” she said.
The program also built students’ sense of self-efficacy.
“The program intentionally builds students’ confidence. They begin to see themselves not as bystanders, but as individuals capable of influencing their school culture. Many leave recognizing that leadership is a daily choice, not a position,” McCarthy said.
Students said the experience left a lasting impression.
“The social media presentation was phenomenal,” said Adrian Ochoa-Raya, 13, of Oak Lawn. “It helped us understand our rights as people, even in a world where there is so much fear and conflict. We all have rights and freedoms that deserve to be protected.”
“I loved listening to the other students from different schools,” said Ava Kate Peterson, 12, of Oak Lawn. “Their ideas made me feel hopeful and showed me that the future is in good hands.”
Aurora Rosalee Beaver, 12, of Oak Lawn, said she found the human rights discussions especially meaningful.
“I thought it was really interesting to learn about our human rights and which ones matter most to my peers,” she said.
Bree Mary Beyer, 13, of Hometown, said the connections stood out.
“The best part of the field trip was meeting students from other schools,” she said. “It made me realize how connected we all are, even when we come from different places.”
Buentello said the trip directly supported the school’s social studies curriculum, particularly in civic responsibility, democratic values, human rights and global citizenship, as well as its social-emotional learning goals.
“It’s important for students to understand their rights so that as they process the world around them, they can confidently stand up for what they believe in,” Buentello said.