Leadership.

In the light of recent elections for the Student Council, Prefects, Vice Captains and Captains, I want to throw some light on Leadership. Many of you would have stood for the elections with big dreams. Some of you may have succeeded, whereas some of you may have not.

Last year, I stood for the Student Council Elections, and I didn't get in. At this time last year, I was saddened and angry. For someone who wants to nurture their leadership qualities and wants to learn how to properly lead people, such things mean a lot. Then I was pushed to the post of a Prefect. I always heard people talk and ask, and I did the same too,"Why are they throwing me a Prefect Badge? Is it because my fate was bad and they were pitiful?"

But later I made myself contemplate the matter. How long was I going to feel bad about the fact that I wasn't part of the student council? Then I understood. If you truly want to be a leader, any post that gives you an opportunity to be a leader, you take it, and then you mold yourself into the leader that you need to me. It would've been assumed that you stood for the elections because you had leadership qualities in you, and hence, even though you didn't get in, here you are, getting an opportunity, to be a leader. Because even though you didn't get in, you came this far, and were eligible to become a prefect. Which simply means, you can be a leader.

Now, let me make myself clear. I am not writing this to make anyone feel better. I know that asking you to not worry and telling you that you'll get better opportunities in life, is not going to work, even if it is true. You'll feel angry, sad and jealous. You might feel bad about yourself, like life has come to an end. You will ask the same question that I and many others did. It's okay. You are human. We are able to feel that way, and so we do. And I promise you, you'll get over it.

So, what does being a leader mean? Someone who is a leader, leads anyways. They don't need a badge and a post. That gives you power, yes. But Malala Yousafzai did not have a post or the power, yet she stood and led hundreds of girls.

 Being a leader does not simply mean leading to victory. It first means that you become a friend, a mentor, an influence, and someone that even if you couldn't lead to victory, you'll still be remembered, looked up to, and still hold that belief that people have in you.

I am not someone who has a lot of experience of being a leader, or someone who is perfect and thinks she's a perfect leader, and has all the leadership qualities. But I'm still in the process. And so are you. So what if you didn't get in? Does that stop you from being a leader? Does that stop you from observing leaders and learning from their success and failures, as to who and what a leader is? Even being a leader on a trekking expedition comprising of 5 people, if you've done it right and made it count, you are capable of being a leader.

Finally, all those who have a post, congratulations! You are blessed with what you have. Make it count! Be the leader everyone who voted for you, expects you to be.

"Believe in who? Believe in you."

I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

-Hiranshi.

P.S. This is for everyone. Elected or not, doesn't matter.