Leadership can come from those who bask in the spotlight as well as the unsung heroes who toil effectively in the background.
Julia Horn, senior captain for the Institute of Notre Dame basketball team, fits the latter mold. A three-year varsity player, the forward said the camaraderie of the sport is what makes her enjoy it so much.
“I like that it’s a team sport because you get to work with other people and work together for a common goal,” Horn said. “You’re constantly moving and thinking. You can be on offense for one moment then all of a sudden you’re on defense. You also get really close to your teammates.”
Jerry Hahn, Horn’s coach, said that she leads by example. He credits her hard work and maturity with keeping her teammates focused, of particular importance as they prepare for their Feb. 4 (7 p.m.) game against rival Mercy at the Towson Center .
“She works hard, and being a senior, she keeps the girls stable and in line,” Hahn said. “She’s very coachable and reliable. She’s not a leading scorer, but scores points that make a difference.”
Horn plays soccer as well, but her contributions to IND extend beyond athletics. She is president of the student body, and embraces being a role model to both her teammates and fellow students.
“I think it’s cool,” Horn said, “that I can be a leader both on and off the court, and that I can get people to work together to improve things and change things around the school.”
Horn is also a member of the National Honor Society; the vice president of the National Spanish Honor Society; the ambassador club, which promotes the school by giving tours; and a lector at school Mass. She does all that while boasting a 4.56 GPA, strengthened by honors physics and advanced placement calculus and English.
“She epitomizes what the student athlete is,” Hahn said. “I don’t know how she handles that (workload), but she finds a way to get through it.”
Outside of school, Horn serves as a lector at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Carney and volunteers with its community work camps.
Horn said she simply wants to make the most of every moment before graduating from high school.
“I love being active in my community and my school,” she said. “I feel a sense of pride with IND. I really love it here and I’m going to miss it next year, so I want to do all that I can to be a part of it while I’m still here.”