WHAT DOES BEING A LEADER MEAN?

In today's society when we think of leaders our mind automatically goes to those at the head of countries, businesses, and at this particular time probably the quarterback of our favorite football team. Google's definition of a leader is "a person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country," yet this definition seems to miss many of the most important attributes of a leader.

My favorite definition of a leader is John Quincy Adam's definition: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." A leader is not someone that simply commands others, but someone who inspires cooperation, advancement, and individual improvement. A leader must first be part of the team before he or she can lead the team.

St. Ignatius of Loyola challenges us to act as such leaders and to "go forth and set the world on fire." All it takes is one person to light the match, to inspire a fire to start, and that fire will spread and give light to many more. A leader is a spark of light that causes an everlasting light to turn on among many others.

I hope that STARS LEAD can develop my skills so that I may inspire my mentee so that he or she can start a fire of his own that will hopefully light the path for his or her education and life. I hope that I can be a friend and a role model to my mentee so that I can be both a friendly and exemplary figure in his or her life. I also hope to learn from my fellow mentors who are all leaders in different aspects and whom I hope to learn from. I am sure this experience will be unforgettable and that it will result in lifelong friendships, skills and memories.