Until the summer of 2011 I had lived in Florida my whole life where I attended a private school since I was 3 years old. Since the school was small and not state funded, we really didn't have many sports, and I don't think we had a single club. This combined with the factors of being an only child, and not hanging out with the kids in my neighborhood because we went to different schools, gave me the complex of being the quiet girl who kept to herself. This quiet nature carried over to when I was 15 and moved to Taunton, Massachusetts. When I moved, the only person I knew and socialized with was my cousin Amanda, but she attended the vocational school in town, so when summer was over I would have to face Taunton High alone.
Fall semester came and went, I enjoyed my classes, but I kept to myself. I carried on with that same pattern going into the next semester. In the spring of 2012 I went to my US history class and as is to be expected, we did icebreakers. One of the icebreaker questions was "What are you involved in at Taunton High?". After everyone went around the room and gave their spiel, it was my turn and I didn't have an answer. My teacher was shocked and made me promise that I would get involved by the end of the semester. I complied. Everyday through my teacher's example, I was slowly absorbing the skills of leadership and self acceptance that he exuberantly reflected. Two months later I decided to join Student Council. Since he was the advisor of Student Council, I continued to be influenced and learn from him in and out of the classroom.
I started becoming involved by attending and chairing campus events, and eventually attended leadership conferences with my council. I became more outgoing and interacted with people across the commonwealth that I would have never met without the opportunities presented to me by Student Council. By the following semester, working in my council had become my passion and priority. I wanted others to see what an affect it had on me, and why I thought it was so important to the development of myself and my school.
By my senior year I went from being the shy girl who kept to herself, to the girl who presented workshops, won awards and scholarships, joined the swim team, became a tour guide and orientation leader, and was accepted into Taunton High's internship program. And just when I thought I was the one learning and growing from those I looked up to, I was told by younger students that I had made an impact on them! They had seen the passion that I put into everything I did and that they were inspired to do the same. I think having a positive impact on someone else is truly the greatest thing I could ever accomplish.
As I was reading the chapter, The Best Leaders Are Teachers, I realized how literal that title was. Four years ago I met a teacher who changed my life for the better, and who impacted me to the point where I would not be who I am today without his guidance. I believe this passage describes him with infallible accuracy, so here is an ode to him:
"The best leaders are the most passionate about their work, their organizations, and their disciplines. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and others catch that enthusiasm and display it in their own work. We wish all our leaders could be this excited. These are the leaders we will tell the most positive stories about in the future. These are the leaders who continue to make a difference long after we, and they, have moved on."
So thank you for influencing me and showing me I have the power to influence others. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Thank you for exhibiting what a true leader is. Thank you for inspiring direction in my life. Thank you for pushing me to be my best. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Pete Parcellin, for everything you have done.
Above: photo at a state leadership conference moments before accepting the commonwealth's Unsung Hero Award (which I had no idea my advisor nominated me for)
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