When as a youth activist he wrote to then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama about polluted Illinois waterways, Jackson State University freshman Eric Hobson had no idea that Obama would go on to be president or that he would be lauded by the commander in chief for his own accomplishments.
Hobson’s achievements include being selected to appear in a national promotional video for Boy Scouts of America and earning the highest rank attainable of Eagle Scout. These include a litany of accolades for the 18-year-old biology major from Belleville, Illinois.
Indeed, his extraordinary success belie his age.
White House salute
Recently, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama saluted Hobson’s community service and new rank, writing that “young people like you give us great hope for the future.”
Because of his accomplishments, the Boy Scouts selected him to appear in its upcoming national video campaign to express how the organization shaped his leadership skills and ambition.
Hobson describes Scouting as a “great experience that instills skills into boys so that they can succeed as men. I’ve been able to experience so many different things from kayaking, canoeing, shotgun shooting, tying knots. But it’s not only the skills. It’s the friendships that are formed. It’s a brotherhood. We form a bond either through surviving something, cooking something, even just sleeping under the stars,” he said.
In addition, Hobson, an only child, is a gifted multi-instrumentalist who has performed internationally as a concert violinist in Ireland and other nations. Even while competing as a cross-country runner in high school, the top scholastic achiever gained recognition from a national youth leadership council for displaying his musical talents at shelters for victims of domestic abuse, serving meals to the needy on Christmas Day, working with the NAACP and building a computer learning center for youth.
The humble Hobson is quick to dismiss the notion that he’s an overachiever. Instead, he says, “I consider myself to be more driven.”
Biography of a Scout
Still, the numerous badges on his Scout uniform tell the biography of an individual who has accomplished more in his young life than much older people with a bucket list waiting to be filled.
Hobson is a consummate go-getter with attention to detail. Every school day on the JSU campus, the slender, smiling, affable young man is easy to spot. At more than 6 feet tall, he’s always impeccably groomed and dressed for success, donning distinctive neckties and dress coats.
Recently, the sharply attired freshman orchestrated a major coup by earning first place for JSU in an oratorical contest at the annual Men of Color Conference at Mississippi State University. Vying against 15 other institutions, it was an honor that heaped praise on the JSU squad.
“Captivated the judges”
Career service coordinator Jeremy Hodge, who accompanied the 37 JSU participants, lauded each for their individual talents. He especially noted that Hobson “wowed and captivated the judges with his oratorical skills and confidence.”
Nevertheless, Hobson admitted being nervous about his participation because, as a last-minute entry, he said he wrote his speech on the bus while en route to the conference.
Regarding his future career, he says he plans to become an immunologist, studying health and researching cures for various illnesses related to chemical and physiological aspects of the immune system.
For Hobson, choosing a medical profession is an extension of his identity, and he vows to resume his life as a servant leader.
Scouts honor.