'Born to lead' may sound exaggerated but it is valid when your destiny finds you, instead of the other way around. And I guess destiny found me.
I have always hated leading people or organizing anything. You would never find me leading any activity that would give people the chance to get into my space. I hated that. But I noticed that when I opened my mouth, it was like a book of knowledge and people enjoyed following my lead.
I remembered in secondary school, I was the best female sportsperson and I had taken on football and table tennis. In my first year of senior secondary school, some of the junior students had gone to the principal to ask about the sports prefect position. The principal had told them that the position would only be open for contest in the next term and they told him to consider me for the position.
During the break, when the guys are playing football, they have a dispute. They would find me in the food shop just for me to settle it. I liked that they acknowledged me, but I never wanted to feel obligated to answer anyone or organize games.
Having said that, the whole point of leading is to serve others. And in serving others, you have to make a lot of sacrifices which I was not ready for.
The next term, it was time to announce the new prefects for the session and as they called names and granted badges, I watched quietly. I was still watching when someone tapped me. I turned and he said, "The principal mentioned your name, go to the front of the assembly."
Still in shock, I reluctantly moved to the front of the assembly with 180 students clapping and watching. I did not know my position till the principal announced that I was the first female assistant games prefect and the first one to be chosen in her first year in senior secondary school.
Everybody was congratulating me. The junior students came to hug me. After the crowd disappeared, I was happy about the recognition but now, I had a responsibility. The next year, I became the sports prefect, the first female sports prefect in the 17-year history of the school. It was not a small feat. I had already started getting used to the lifestyle of sacrifice, so I was happy about this one. Our inter-house sports was coming up and I was at the center of planning, along with the sports coordinator.
I remember writing letters to other participating schools when other students were on break. Sometimes after school, I would go with the sports coordinator to check the venue, and call various people involved in the organization of the inter-house sports competition. I sacrificed my time and money, but it paid off because the 3rd inter-house sports competition hosted by my high school was the best edition.
