Leadership

Leadership and responsibility go together, like salt and pepper, bacon and eggs, and peanut butter and banana. If a person has leadership qualities, it means not leading others down the wrong path. I’ve seen it in the classroom. I’ve had students say, “I’m not making them do it.” I wonder if they really believe that, or if they secretly are glad they have that power. Who knows?
I’ve lead students. My problem was I loved middle schoolers. I still do. It’s like walking into a buzz saw. The amount of energy there often left me reeling at the end of the day. What just happened? Luckily, the luxury of running three miles home to clear out the stress of it kept me going. Middle schoolers have issues involving growing up. They’re not quite sure how they fit in, and they’re trying to find how to fit. They have bigger bodies, lots of energy, and they have to operate in confining places. A recipe for disaster.
One day I had a dentist appointment after I got done driving the school bus. I settled into the chair, and when Dr. Latshaw came in, he said, “You just sit back and relax. You don’t have to worry about any responsibilities here.” That really hit me. I thought about it then, and I’ve thought about it a great deal since. I want to be a positive leader and impart wisdom to students, so with their passport to the future they can be equipped to be productive. That affects all of us. It’s a tremendous responsibility. Some days I wondered if I made any difference. But just about the time it appeared hopeless, a student would say something that proved they were listening and somehow an important point remained in their repertoire.
That’s where I had influence. But today, I still have influence with whoever I come in contact with. I am a leader whether I believe it or not. If I take a stand or express a belief, someone else is watching, waiting to see if they should follow or not. Leadership carries great responsibility, so I need to examine myself daily to make sure I’m leading in the right direction.