I was born with a mindset sticking in my head of “I am not a Leader, and I can not be one.” The reason behind this theory was that I thought I’m not good at it. But thinking deeper, I have never got a chance to enhance my leadership skills. Not that I don’t have the opportunity to do so, but I never want to get out of my comfort zone and accept the opportunity.
Eventually, this mindset and action had shifted after I got an offer from my school’s principal to participate in a workshop called Global Social Leader, GSL for short. It’s an opportunity for me to start to initiate my potential as a leader. The GSL workshop lasted for three days and a month of social challenges to make changes in the community or country. It was the best time spent in my life; I am not even trying to exaggerate.
The first minute of participating in the GSL zoom workshop was wild. Many international students who have a passion to change popped up on my laptop screen. I feel incredible seeing many students have the same passion as me, but I’m a little bit shy talking to them. So, I sat silently enjoying the lecture.
Not so long that I realized, greeting people and introducing myself is the most important part of this workshop. Though, I realized it; It was too late and day one was wasted for me.
I promised myself to be prepared to talk with other students as much as I could. Fortunately, I did. I was surprised that many other students were shy as well. Knowing that boosted my confidence to interact with more people. It was a day that I can’t complain about spending 3 hours on. Aside from communication, I gathered a lot of information from the lecture — a good leader starts from you.
Knowing I did a phenomenal job on day two, I decided to keep up my momentum for day three. Though it was the last day, it was a pleasure seeing other shy students speak up and start communicating as well. Putting on a smile when communicating is a lesson I learned from day 3. Nonetheless, “lead with love and lead with passions” is another vital lesson I have learned.
Miserably, the workshop has ceased to end. It was emotional saying goodbye to those students and lecturers, not knowing when’s the next time we will meet. The workshop is extraordinary and I can’t think of a better way to spend that time. The workshop has ended but the mission hasn’t been completed. All participants were given 30 days of social challenges to make changes in their community or even their country.
I was thinking of making an impact on an issue that I have always been interested in — poverty. According to my ways of thinking, poverty is the main root of every other significant problem in this world. Without any hesitation, I wrote a poem addressing the life of those who live in poverty. I published it on my website hoping for people to reach and get emotional with it.
Here’s the poem:
Look at those wide eyes
Staring at the sky
With no tears left to cry.
Look at those skinny arms
With no muscular charm,
No protection from harm.
Look at the stomach protrude
Due to hunger
And lack of food,
Bleak and crude.
Day in day out I am always suffering
No permanent place to sleep
The mouth is always dry
Hunger, hunger my stomach complains
Garbage bins are the sources of my food
Clothes are dirty and old
When I cry out for help, no one comes to the rescue.
I walk barefooted
My teeth got no brush
My hair scuzzy
No toothpaste and soap
I use water from public toilets
My fellows go to school
Whilst I am busy walking in the center of the street
Finding temporary shelter
I am an orphan
I have no one to care for me
I don’t get knowledge
Due to poverty
Poverty is the main source of problems
Without poverty,
This will be a peaceful world
So please,
We demand you
PROTECT OUR CHILDREN!
I inherently can not mention it enough that this particular workshop thoroughly taught me a ton. I have always enjoyed the process of learning, but after participating in GSL, no words can describe my ambition to thrive for improvement. In the closure, I advocate for all students to step out of your comfort to discover your passion. As Roy T. Bennett once said, “It’s only after you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow and transform.”