Narrative Essay about Leadership

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet”, said Theodore M. Hesburgh, which I have proven for being the one to blast the trumpet for few years of service. It was not that easy, but I can say that these experiences brought out where I am purposed for.

I was elected as a group or section leader as early as primary school. I was so naive back then that I felt my responsibilities simply included asking the class to keep quiet or ensuring that everyone had turned in their homework. Years passed, and I still had no idea what it meant to be a true leader until I reached my intermediate and last year of elementary school. Everyone is rooting for the next School Council President to lead the hundreds of kids in that massive organization. I was confident that I would receive the title since I am the most experienced and had already been recognized as a great leader in my own sense.

It is not a pleasant outcome. I was stunned to find that my opponent had won and that I would be resided to lead a sub-organization. It was a major insult to my pride and my efforts to convince people. But that was the most significant breakthrough in my life. I realized that even during the debate, I had had no idea what my platforms and objectives were; I had no vision at all. And that made me wonder, “Are my previous ways of leading not the effective ways to be a great leader?”

With that, I assessed if I was made for leadership. It is believed that in order to be a great leader, one must first become a follower. For the next several years, I attempted to be a follower, and as a result, I saw the perspective of the individuals a leader serves. And this helped me understand two things: a follower does not perceive the overall picture of the issue, but a leader concentrates mostly on the general objective, often overlooking the specifics.

And with that, something in my soul tells me that I want to be the one who serves and leads these people. I now recognize what I lacked in the past, and leading now is the only way to close that gap. I realized that being a leader is more than simply standing in front of people and telling them what to do to accomplish the objective; it is also about putting yourself in their shoes and determining the best course of action to take. Knowing where they stand can help a leader focus on the details before achieving a larger goal.

That electrifying moment inspired me to run for Supreme Pupil/Student Government candidacy in the next election. This, however, does not fill the vessels in my leader’s heart. I wasn’t the one who planned the party’s agenda, and all I do now is do what my superiors do. But the most important lesson I’ve learned is to have a clear vision. Our SPSG mayor spoke with all of his intellect about the objectives he has along the road and the small steps that he should take to gradually reach those goals. As a result, he became my molder and my standard of leadership.

I felt that my time had come, so I ran for SPSG officer once again. This time, my skepticism did not prevent me from taking the boldest move I could, especially since it was my final year of high school. I was first hesitant to follow a great leader who had been before me, but I pondered on a few things I had learned along the process.

1. Being unable to understand the essence of leadership will not make one a successful leader.

2. A good leader understands not only the bigger picture of a situation but also where his people stand.

3. Vision is the most priceless favor a leader can give his followers.

Preparing for the candidacy wasn’t that easy. Oppositions are being thrown on our platforms, and things are not going as planned. Instead of getting demoted, I felt obliged to be more competent. I devote my time to expressing my goals and informing individuals that I want the best for the entire school. Fortunately, I won, and this was when my true journey began.

Preparing for the candidacy is not that easy.  Oppositions are being thrown on our platforms, and things are not going as planned. Instead of getting demoted, I felt obliged to be more competent. I devote my time to expressing my goals and informing individuals that I want the best for the entire school. Fortunately, I won, and this was when my true journey began.

It was challenging to be the leader next to the greatest, as I had imagined. People are expecting much too much from the new management to be the same as the last one. That sparked the concept of becoming different in my own right. Several of my initiatives were conceived and implemented by me. Advisers and other council members assisted me in becoming my kind of a leader. Yes, difficulties may arise. However, as the old saying goes, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Today, as I reminisce on this journey, I cannot still believe I led hundreds of people. Nonetheless, I can declare that being the school mayor was not my greatest achievement as a person; rather, it was the most significant personal growth that I had. I went from having no notion to being mindful of the skills required of a leader. Experiences are indeed the best teacher as those allow me to be more competent in standing in front of people. As I stumbled on the mud, it had awaken me to this matter and prepared me to be more than what I became in the past. With this in mind, I can state unequivocally that the best medicines always taste awful.

This important journey teaches me not only how to be a leader, but also what to look for in a state leader. As a result, I believe that my vote will have a huge impact on the country. Shading my election ballot will be a very significant part of the incoming election. I do not register merely to get the blue ink on my right index finger; I wanted to ensure that the country’s future was secured by a great leader, whom I can foresee based on my experiences.