I believe that my leadership skills can most effectively be seen on the mat while I'm wrestling. When it comes to sports, I try not to be careless and prevent others from being careless as well. My philosophy is that, when I'm participating in something, I give one hundred percent or else I'd rather not even try. I have learned from experience that leadership is one of those qualities that one must be born with; it allows one to be able to recognize the situation instinctively without even thinking about it. As Robert Frost says, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” I think this quote implies that Frost took this road on instinct rather than by making a conscious decision. Therefore, proving that he was a true leader.
I went to the state championships for wrestling during the 2010-2011 school year, placed fourth in A and AA in the state of South Carolina in A and AA, and was named all-region and all-state wrestler. At one of my State Wrestling matches, I was put into a pool with the previous state champion and several others. I was more mentally prepared than anyone else because I held firm faith in my ability and my desire to win. I kept thinking: “I'm going to be the first one to beat this kid, and I'm going to make it look good.” I made it my goal to put in so much effort that I would have a hard time walking off the mat after the match due to the amount of energy I had exerted. This was the only way I could measure my willingness to win in the match. Because I had the quality of leadership, I was able to surpass my inner struggles and focus on the physical challenge. As my coach says, “If you are mentally prepared, then you have won half the battle.” That day, I proved this to myself and walked off the mat with no regrets. I tried my best, put in every ounce of energy I had, and, unsurprisingly, I won. I proved to myself that I was a leader, a person who does not follow the ways or opinions of others, but instead makes his own road. As Harold S. Geneen once said, “Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”
I have also influenced my peers with my leadership as a captain of the Varsity Wrestling team. During practices we work hard, and if anyone tries to goof off, it's my responsibility to put them back on the right track. If their grades are bad, I try to help them out by tutoring them in the challenging subject. As the president of our school's National Honor Society, it is my responsibility to help my peers academically.