I Learned That I Don't Always Have to Have the Answer

For a long time, I thought being a leader meant being confident, speaking up, and knowing what to do. I thought if I was put in charge of something, people expected me to have the answer. But after being involved in leadership programs, Student Council, Model UN, and Schoolhouse Dialogues, I started realizing that leadership is actually a lot more complicated than that.

Sometimes I have an idea that sounds great in my head, and then somebody else points out something I completely missed. Sometimes I disagree with someone at first, but once I actually listen to why they think that way, their opinion starts making more sense. I’ve learned that listening doesn’t mean I’m weak or that I don’t know what I’m doing. It means I’m willing to admit that I don’t know everything.

I’m still learning this because, like most people my age, I sometimes want to prove that my idea is the right one. But I’m getting better at stopping myself and hearing other people out.

What life has taught me so far: Being a leader isn’t about being the smartest or loudest person in the room. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to stop talking and actually listen.