Hi, everyone! Happy August. I hope you enjoy this essay I wrote about hiking and leadership. Stay safe and please reach out if you need emotional support. I am here for you. <3 I am twelve and hiking the White Mountains. Sweat slips down my forehead and my polyester shirt is heavy against my skin. My backpack straps burn my waist and my shoes thud against the stone ground. Yet, I am alright. Although I am last in line among the ten campers in our group, two of my counselors have stayed beside me. With their belief in me, positive spirits, and knowledge, I know I will be okay.
That hiking trip, although physically and emotionally exhausting, was one of the best summer camp activities I was privileged to experience. The week before the trip, the counselors had taken us on numerous day hikes and facilitated multiple team-building exercises. We visited Wachusett and the Fells. We played games that forced us to work together to solve mysteries. By the time we left for the White Mountains, we were all prepared. Using my counselors as examples, I understood that the best leaders are those who trust and inspire their followers and guide them with knowledge. Trust is a huge part of leadership. If during the hike, my counselors told me I was not going to make it to the next resting point or that because of my small height, they were already predicting I would slow them down, they would have lost my respect for them and hindered the group dynamics. Fortunately, my leaders learned to trust and believe in me and, throughout our trip, they assured me that I would complete the expedition. The fact we had a week before our journey to bond emphasizes the importance of leaders putting aside time to build trust with their followers. During that week, my counselors discovered my love of reading, so when we arrived at the White Mountains, they told stories about red balls, William Tell, and Zorro in order to comfort me during our trek. I felt cared for by them and in turn, I trusted my counselors. When I became an art camp counselor at fifteen-years-old, I used the lessons I attained on that hiking trip about trust to guide me. At my first lunch recess, I gazed at the kids running around everywhere. My heartbeat quickened and I fiddled with my red lanyard. The campers were moving too fast. Fearful, I did not even allow some of the kids to skip. This, naturally, upset them. Eventually, as I connected with the children and recognized their intelligence, I realized that I could find a balance between trusting the campers to jog safely and maintaining they are not running. That way, the children felt trusted and more willing to bond and talk with me, but I still could watch out for their security. Leaders must also motivate their followers if any tasks are to be completed. In my senior year, as a co-founder of my high school’s Asian American Club, I was constantly testing what activities inspired participation. I learned very early on that most people in the club found group discussions to be disengaging, but events like potlucks and card game tournaments to be entertaining. By taking the time to discover what aroused motivation, planning activities became much easier and members became more likely to participate. Additionally, through my experience as a club leader, I observed how confidence is necessary to inspire followers. During the first Asian American Club meeting, I remember standing off to the side of the room filled with students with my hands shaking and my voice trembling. It was a Friday afternoon following a long week of school and I was worried that everything I had planned would crumble. Sure enough, with my very visible nerves, I had a difficult time motivating members to participate in the group discussion. Yet, a few weeks later, after I had time to feel more comfortable in my role, I was able to stand in the front of the classroom and with a clear voice, lead a successful trivia game. The club’s member engagement only blossomed from that moment. We went from no one wanting to participate to everyone laughing and babbling each meeting. In reaction to my confidence and my time figuring out my members’ interests, the club’s motivation became strong. If not for my counselors’ knowledge, I would never have gotten off the White Mountains. I watched them lead the way for us gaggle of preadolescents. As we slipped down wet rocks, they provided us with tips to safely descend. When rain lashed against our jackets and filled streams to the brim, the counselors knew the best ways to jump across the water unscathed. While the counselors, of course, carried and consulted a map, they also had years of personal experience on the trail to advance their knowledge. Their knowledge was the foundation for their other leadership qualities. Their wisdom spurred my willingness to trust them and my motivation to keep going even when the path seemed difficult. Without being informed, they would not have had the confidence to inspire us to continue. Even simple facts they knew like the scientific names of trees and salamanders gave me faith in their abilities. It is no surprise then that I think of my counselors when I need examples of strong leaders. In my own leadership positions, whether as a camp counselor or a club leader, I try to exert that same aura of trust, inspiration, and knowledge. Before entering a club meeting, I make sure I have a plan and a backup plan. To prepare for being a camp counselor, I confirm that I am well-versed in the camp’s protocols. After all, whose faith could I gain and who could I motivate if I know nothing? Thanks to my hiking counselors, I now understand that what all the best leaders need is a sprinkle of trust to bond with their followers, inspiration to encourage their supporters, and, finally, knowledge to guide everyone.
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AuthorI'm Darcy Ridge, creating stories that all revolve around family and identity in a myriad of ways. In the past, I have shared multiple stories and published a novella online. You can find me on Wattpad and many other social media websites. They/them [Image Description: black background with the words "Social Justice and Mental Health Resources" in white in the center /end ID]
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