Years ago, whilst, I was in SS2, I was elected as the president of a prestigious club of my school. It was a bit expected having served the same club as the lecture director for 1 year, delivering lectures on problematic topics that has beleaguered fellow students. Despite the fact, it was an opportunity to embrace, given that it was a full tenure of service which spanned throughout my entire SS3 up to secondary school graduation , I had one regret, nonetheless.
At the ending session of SS2, I was also nominated to be the head boy of the school which was a position well revered by many and given to those who have shown great maturity over their perceived years. Unexpected by the teachers, I turned it down. I had also thought that the presidency I have been elected for, is enough and was sufficient to ensure navigation across the academic climes which I had a target to achieve. However, incorrectness has been found within me, after many years due to that decision. The one popularly called "electrons" because of his perceived mastery of the subject - Chemistry, can also been drown due in his inexperience of decision making at that time.
For the first time in my school, a panel of inquiry was set-up to understand the reasons behind my refusal with a primary aim to convince me to reconsider and take on the post. I utterly declined the offer boldly, even in front of my favorite teacher, Ms. Okeshola, citing academic reasons. The school were constrained to give the position to another person, less favored by the students but for every wrong decision which was made by the head boy instituted, I was greased with look of grin in the assembly ground that sound like, "You should have taken this position and provide us with something better." The candidate was good but the quest for top quality by other students and teachers cannot be matched.
I endured it till the last day in school but many never stopped calling me the head boy even though it was my formal title. Over the years, I have reviewed that decision in retrospect, having lead many groups, organizations and communities and realize that I was wrong and was called to lead. Leadership comes with many commitments that are not ordinary. Sometimes, combination of many conflicting factors. Fast forward down to my undergraduate, I had led many individual group assignments including an inter-departmental group project comprising of 7 engineering departments and 70 persons. I had also led technical committee of SPEI in my alma mater, having served as the technical secretary.
I have learnt few things from this experience:
1. If the best do not step up to lead, they would be victims of leadership that might not be the best.
2. Leaders wear multiple hats. They can be generalist with T-shape. Never shy away from handling multiple responsibilities, if your schedule can permit.
3. You do not know your capability in leadership until you put the little skills you have honed in leadership to test.
4. The followers, you failed to step up to lead, would always remember you in context of the situation as not supportive and some can hate you for it even.
5. In boldness, consider who is recommending you. Ensure, you speak to the person and ensure the person thoroughly understand your perspective. An unexplained boldness can be mistaken as arrogance.
The club I led in secondary school was Junior Engineers Technicians & Scientist (JETS) Club. Having performed as the first position in an impromptu speech competition in the entire Apapa zone which was largely undocumented even though prize award was issued, the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) have provided a pioneer opportunity to showcase your talent as a member of JETS club and it ends on 7th September, 2024 by 11:59PM WAT.
SFor young ones, please see link, apply and let your achievements count in history: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2MgxdA1dipZAzyvQmNNPUHwMAid42Ub6ibt1ck_0hmKrpZg/viewform?idU=1
Have you had leadership experience that went sore or what you could do better. Please share.
