by Nathan Hunt |

The past few months have opened my eyes to the potential I have to make an impact in the lives around me. Being blessed with leadership positions as the Executive Secretary of Student Council, the Editor in Chief of Newspaper and a role model for the second graders I teach. I have grown and learned how to become a more responsible leader. Of course, I am still learning everyday; opportunities for improvement present themselves frequently. It is my job to take those opportunities as they appear and run with them, because in the end, it will only make me a stronger leader.

There are numerable traits of a successful leader; one being that they know the important lesson that perception is reality. Everyone has their own perception on life, as they should. Being a leader, you keep this in mind when addressing issues with an individual or large group. Make sure to maintain a manner that does not radiate the wrong meaning. It is true that you cannot control what people think, but you can influence how they might perceive a certain conversation or situation. In order to lead well, one needs to be able to adapt and correct the negative perceptions that will pop up throughout their life.

A quality that even the best of leaders come to wrestle with is the task of giving constant support to every issue they lead. Life is not always fair, something you do not need me telling you, and there will be decisions made that you end up not agreeing with. Yet, an exceptional leader will take this decision and sell it like there was no better option in the entire world. This is a sign of a true leader, because while some would check out and bash it with all their might, the true leader goes around building up the change, expressing excitement and handing out praise.

Having the chance to be a leader is a privilege. Not only are you a role model for your peers, but also you represent the group or community you are leading. A thing to realize is that everyone has the potential to be a leader. So I ask you, fellow leaders, to lead by example. When you are at forks in the road, take a second to think about the best path to head down. Be mindful of your actions and keep in mind that perception is reality.