After being in Leadership for the past year, I can confidently say that I’ve definitely grown as a person and as a team member. I remember the first time I joined the program and showing up to the first couple meetings, not knowing how it all worked. Being oblivious to how much work and effort is being done behind the scenes at every school event. But I knew that I was willing to help and willing to put an effort into making school events just as memorable for everyone as they were to me.
A key takeaway I had from being apart of Leadership was learning how to be adaptable and responsible. I can think of so many instances that I wouldn’t have been able to overcome if it wasn’t for my adaptability and realizing that I needed to do a difficult task in order for the issue to be resolved. For example, when we made a mistake on one of the valentines candy grams that was in the pile, which we now had to check every single one of them for the incorrect one. Another time would be when the speakers for the Christmas themed photo booth weren’t working so me and a friend had to carry another heavy speaker from the gym and up the stairs to the foyer, since we didn’t have access to the elevator. I’ve learnt that its always important for everyone to step up when they can in order to ensure a positive experience for everyone.
At the start of the program, I was often hesitant to take on big leadership roles or to be anything more than someone that works on the side lines or behind the scenes. But eventually I decided to take a big step forward and take on the Point Person role for Spirit Week in December. This was a memorable experience as I realized that you don’t always need to be the loudest person in the room to be a “leader”, what’s more important is being able to communicate with your group, be present to offer help and guide others throughout the event. This also made me feel confident enough to take on the next Point Person role in our spring Spirit Week. Although it was cancelled due to unfortunate circumstances, I don’t regret taking the role and opportunity to lead again.
While I know that its always important to acknowledge the accomplishments and strengths, its also important to acknowledge areas of improvement and how I can improve these skills to be able to utilize in the real world. There were times this year, especially in the beginning, where I felt I could have been more involved, taking on more roles on busy days, or taking that step further to maximize my efforts. I realize that its often the smaller, behind the scenes contributions that make a big difference in a team setting. I can apply these critical thinking strategies, to reflect on these moments and reflect on myself in the future. Using my sense of self-awareness to continue developing my leadership skills even in the workplace, where you notice the little things and take action without being told to do so.
Overall, I’m really glad that I took Leadership during my last year at Pinetree. I’m proud of everything that I’ve accomplished and how far I’ve come. This course was more than just planning and attending meetings, it was about having fun, with supportive people around me that I could count on, and make memories that I can carry with me throughout my life.
