Lake Zurich High leadership summit aims for realistic definition of success

Social media has distorted what most young people think success looks like, according to Lake Zurich Unit District 95 Superintendent Kaine Osburn.

"They think, 'I have to be like Mark Zuckerberg,'" Osburn said, referring to the Facebook founder and CEO. "What happens is kids start looking to models they see, but those are often not realistic because they're filtered through social media.

"We want them to know they don't have to come up with next technology that changes the world to be successful. You can make concrete contributions today that make your community a better place."

Today, District 95 will host a roundtable discussion with local leaders who have done just that. Osburn hopes students will attend and get a better understanding of how they can be successful.

The panel will include John Alan Sfire, the CEO/president of The Fidelity Group; J.B. Hanson, Lake Zurich High School boys cross-country head coach; Nicole M. Wolter, president and CEO of HM Manufacturing; and Skyler Goodman, lead pastor of Heritage Church in Lake Zurich.

The panel will be moderated by Jim Vaselopulos, founder and CEO of Rafti Advisors, Inc. Vaselopulos co-hosts The Leadership Podcast.

Osburn said the first question for the panel will be "How do you define success?"

"We'll hear some answers that kids aren't used to hearing," he said. "If you ask the kids what their answer would be, it probably wouldn't be as realistic or as productive for them."

The Community Leaders Forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Lake Zurich High School library, 300 Church St. It is open to district parents and middle and high school students.

"I hope that parents will bring their kids and they will walk out of there with something meaningful to talk about," Osburn said.