Leadership Autobiography
A lifetime of meaningful experiences
I have always been very interested in learning as much as I can about everything I can. Learning through experiences has taught me so many valuable lessons, and the past 5 years have been full of them. Throughout high school, I was involved in almost everything I could be. Sports teams, student council, band, working part time, and maintaining an honors standing taught me many things.
Among my most valuable leadership learning experiences was my part-time job, working as a coach at the Island Gymnastics Academy. Throughout high school, I worked to move up the ranks from a junior recreation coach to a competitive coach. Being the youngest staff member at the time, standing my ground proved to be a difficult feat. My methods of coaching were often ridiculed and corrected by senior coaches, and I only saw that as a negative thing. I wasn't listening to the constructive part of the criticism! Looking back, I now see that as my mentors were correcting me, I learned so much about leading a group of kids. My leadership habits stem from these experiences, and now I am so grateful of what I learned (and continue to learn!) from my mentors. Through them, I have gained my own leadership identity, and am able to pass on my knowledge to the junior coaches at the Academy today.
Another big learning period for me is still unfolding today. In September of 2014, I accepted a position at Zion Presbyterian Church as the youth coordinator. I am sharing this position with another leader, and I have to say it couldn't be done alone. I am so used to working with younger kids through my experience as a coach, and also with my experience volunteering at Sunday School. So now trying to wrangle a huge group of teenagers is proving to be more difficult than I expected. I am learning how to have a role of authority and respect on these teens, but to also be their friend and role model. It is a difficult balance, but it is definitely teaching me new leadership methods that I have never had to use before.
Among my most valuable leadership learning experiences was my part-time job, working as a coach at the Island Gymnastics Academy. Throughout high school, I worked to move up the ranks from a junior recreation coach to a competitive coach. Being the youngest staff member at the time, standing my ground proved to be a difficult feat. My methods of coaching were often ridiculed and corrected by senior coaches, and I only saw that as a negative thing. I wasn't listening to the constructive part of the criticism! Looking back, I now see that as my mentors were correcting me, I learned so much about leading a group of kids. My leadership habits stem from these experiences, and now I am so grateful of what I learned (and continue to learn!) from my mentors. Through them, I have gained my own leadership identity, and am able to pass on my knowledge to the junior coaches at the Academy today.
Another big learning period for me is still unfolding today. In September of 2014, I accepted a position at Zion Presbyterian Church as the youth coordinator. I am sharing this position with another leader, and I have to say it couldn't be done alone. I am so used to working with younger kids through my experience as a coach, and also with my experience volunteering at Sunday School. So now trying to wrangle a huge group of teenagers is proving to be more difficult than I expected. I am learning how to have a role of authority and respect on these teens, but to also be their friend and role model. It is a difficult balance, but it is definitely teaching me new leadership methods that I have never had to use before.