Senior Essay 32

Leadership is the ability to influence, inspire, and guide individuals or teams toward achieving a shared goal or vision. Over my years of growing up I’ve often been told I had something special, or the way I carried myself I was able to change the feel of the room. But it was not until recent years, I started to truly know or even understand what that meant. I was always asked, even told to be the example or leader of a situation I was in even if I didn’t want or know how to. It’s because of God’s goodness that he showed me why I was always given this assignment. God’s definition of a leader is a humble servant who stewards God-given gifts to influence others toward Christ-like maturity, focusing on responsibility rather than authority. My most recent task of having to show leadership was over these last two years of my high school basketball career. Transferring to a new school my junior year and becoming a team captain from day one was not something I had planned or even one of my goals for that season. It wasn’t until one day at practice that my coach called me and another teammate into his office assigning us the role of being team captains. I had the speaking captain role meaning I was supposed to keep guys in check whether things were going good or bad. For me, this wasn’t something I was excited about, being the new kid on the team. I wanted people to like me, not think I was using the label as team captain as a reason to always correct or say things just because I could. This role had its ups and downs just like our season did. But if this role taught me anything it taught me to work hard and keep a positive attitude so when people look at you they have a reason to follow and do what you say.
As I’m nearing my last days of high school and becoming a man, I one day plan to start a family and be the leader of my home. The bible says man is tasked with being a provider, protector, and spiritual guide who nurtures his family’s faith, teaches the Word, and manages his home with dignity, wisdom, and gentleness. As I’ve grown up my father has taught, but most importantly showed me what it takes to lead a household the right way. I want to be the positive role model in faith and character that I’ve been shown by so many other Godly men in my life. Most importantly, I want to show and lead my family in a way that is honorable and acceptable to God. My pastor once said “if you want to change the world you need to bless your children. A blessing is received when it’s said verbally and actions show it”. Also as the leader of my house when I marry the woman God sends me, my job is to bring her back to God better than she was before when he first gave her to me. I am to love my wife as Christ loved the church. I am supposed to honor, understand, prioritize, and help her grow spiritually. If I learned one thing from my parents they’ve shown me that marriage isn’t transactional but a partnership where they both grow and serve God together. In conclusion, I want my leadership traits and character to be a reflection of how God tells us it should be in hopes to lead others to Christ.