Royals Essay 9

I was an extremely dedicated person in high school. I always pushed myself to achieve the goals I had created. I was competitive, a high achiever, and motivated to lead by example. But I had moments where I was uncertain about my pathway. I seemed like someone who had it all figured out, but I started to question whether I was truly becoming the person I claimed I wanted to be.
Growing up I was always leading by example, I knew that I wanted to change the world in some meaningful way. I never put a finger on it, but I understood that I was a person who wants to continue to lead by example. My father always told me growing up to “Be a Leader” . When I entered high school, I struggled with being that leader, I doubted myself and I started to question if this was truly what I wanted. Everyone looked up to me because I was this student who always got the question right, who always had a strong statement, and a student who wasn’t afraid of the pressure of high school. But I was afraid. I doubted who I was many times, and was also afraid of failure and not being that leader that everyone looked up to. Being a leader meant trying to always set a good example and being someone others can rely on, but I didn’t know that becoming a leader also meant going through struggles and failures to figure out who you are meant to be.
In my sophomore year of high school I told myself to join any and every program out there so I could gain new skills and new experiences. One in particular was called 20/20 Leadership and in that program I gained experiences that would shape the person I am today. I entered with the hope of understanding what it truly meant to be a leader. Even though I worked really hard to be a strong example for others, I never really knew how it felt like to lead. In that experience, I gained knowledgeable moments that made me understand what it felt like to lead. One that would allow me to leave the program knowing that I will have a career as a leader.
If I’m going to be honest I’ve had many leadership moments, but one specifically was a moment that opened up my eyes. In my first semester of my senior year I earned the role as the girls varsity volleyball team captain. I worked hard growing up, and knowing the kind of person I am, I knew I deserved it—not because I wanted the title, but because throughout my three years of participating, I was compassionate, kind, and always supported my teammates, even on rough days. So when given that title, I was honored and I felt like I was finally getting the recognition I deserved. Participating in high school volleyball was a challenge though. I had coaches that were disrespectful, one coach that destroyed my self esteem and made me question my ability as a player, and as a person.
leadership isn’t about status; it’s about integrity and how you treat people when you don’t feel seen. I struggled as a student athlete because of the constant pressure of thinking I wasn’t good enough. When having a coach who makes you feel belittled, you start questioning what you truly deserve. I had moments where I wanted to quit, moments where giving up seemed like the easy way out. But I knew I wasn’t someone who gives up easily, I wasn’t someone who walks away from a challenge. I worked hard, and I refused to let someone else define my worth.
My biggest and most important leadership moment wasn’t the time I earned a title, but overcoming a very difficult season in my life that challenged me. I had someone in my life who chose to not support me, but I continued to show up and make a difference by helping others who were also struggling, even if I was struggling myself. I stepped in to support my team and show them what true leadership is, through integrity and resilience. That is what being a leader is, you can make mistakes and you can struggle at times, but knowing when to pick up your feet and try harder is a great start to a great leader. A leader knows what they want and how they will achieve it.
Through personal experiences and new perspectives, I now know that I am that leader. I learned how to overcome challenges, define who I’m going to become, and move forward with resilience and a positive attitude. I want to continue to make a difference and to continue to do what’s right with positive change. That difficult season in my life motivated me to pursue a career dedicated to creating impactful and meaningful change. I want to be that kind of leader who supports and inspires others during their difficult times, because I know how it feels like to be in a position where you feel defeated.
I plan to pursue political science at the University of Kansas, so I can make an impact on my community and others. I’ve struggled with understanding what leading means, but I know now that leading doesn’t mean you have to fully understand how it works. Being a person who shows compassion, empathy, integrity, and resilience, is a person who already is a leader. With the support and encouragement from YouthLead KC. I know now that I want to lead and be a leader who continues to make positive change to this country.