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The Leader that Failed to Prepare

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By Chika Tsumagari 

Eagle Games is Dalat’s “sports day” that happens every year in the first quarter. There are four houses: Wave, Quake, Bolt, and Blaze. Each house is divided into smaller teams of about 12 people, two of which are senior leaders. As an underclassman, I remember looking up to them, thinking that it must have taken a lot of time and effort for them to be able to lead a group. I had just assumed that based on their confident attitude to be leaders. However, I found out as a senior that really the leaders are just as clueless as their underclassmen teammates. 

I was given the role of being the leader of my Eagle Games group alongside with Soo Wei Goh for a Quake team. I admit I was excited and feeling confident about being given a responsible leading position. Mentally, I was prepared to go to our first x-block meeting and meet my group for the first time. I had already taken the blank quake flag and markers as leaders were instructed to, ready to make a good impression to my teammates. Until Soo Wei came up to me and insincerely apologized, saying that he couldn’t make it because he has a physio appointment. Suddenly, a rush of panic attacked me when I realized that I had to lead a group by myself. To make matters worse, I was unable to attend the leaders’ meeting the week before, which puts me in the same position as my teammates. 

I walked into the meeting unprepared, unsettled, and uncool. I had even forgotten the card that had the list of my teammates. Fortunately, I had a reliable teammate in sophomore year who had the list of members on her phone. Because of her, I was able to gather my teammates and had them sit down in a circle. However, that’s when I realized, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. The meeting had barely begun, and I had already failed to be a responsible leader. I felt sorry for my teammates and ashamed of myself. That was when I remembered Mr. Kilgo’s pep talk on being a senior. He said, “These people (underclassmen), especially freshman, look up to you. Know that and be nice to them.” Although I was no leader, my teammates do not have any other choices and I had to make sure we were going to have a productive meeting. So I started off by having my teammates introduce themselves.

 It’s interesting how all these years of looking up to seniors, I had unconsciously studied how to approach underclassmen and think of efficient ways to behave under pressuring moments. Although my leadership experience did not start off well, I was able to pick myself up and eventually finish eagle games with a big win! For that, I thank all the leaders I’ve had before and my patient teammates. 

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