Leadership speech ( was chosen to read this for the National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony)
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader,” said John Quincy Adams. And I truly believe he’s correct. Leadership isn’t telling people what to do and bossing them around, it’s inspiring others to do the right thing. True leaders are looked up to with people saying, “You know, they did a really cool thing the other day. I’m going to try to be more like them.” Leaders are not managers, they are not royalty, and they are not dictators. Leaders are just average people who stand up for their beliefs and inspire others to do so as well. They are people who stand by the sides of their troops, motivating them, not bossing them around. It’s an important role with lots of responsibility that takes courage to fulfill.
So who are these special leaders? And how can we, as members of the NJHS be like them? Let’s look at Joan of Arc. At age 17 she was said to have been called on by the Saints to lead an army against the English in France. She went to Lord Robert de Baudricourt to tell him this and request the opportunity. He refused and she went home. She persevered and tried two more times, but with the same result, until France was in a terribly hopeless position in the war, and Baudricourt finally allowed Joan to take control of an army. This was the one chance she needed to prove herself a great and victorious leader in battles to come. She is an excellent role model who showed dedication to her beliefs. Let’s look at another example, Martin Luther King Jr. He was someone who was a respected and admired leader in the African American community who fought for freedom and equality of all races. He led many protests and gave numerous speeches; he stood for what he believed in and wasn’t going to let anyone stop him. Despite many violent reactions and opportunities to be violent in retaliation, he kept his cool and stayed true to his ideas without fighting. He won the respect of many and was, and is, looked up to as a courageous leader.
So how can we, as 8th graders, strive to be like Joan and Martin? It’s not an easy feat. Leaders can’t make everyone happy all the time, and have to deal with those who oppose their beliefs. They have to be strong and stubborn, but flexible. They have to work with their troops, not above them. They have to be brave and level-headed and never afraid to admit they were wrong. They take other’s advice fairly, and listen to all sides of the problem. But most of all, the one great quality that all leaders have is respect.
It’s one thing to admire someone, want to be like them, but it is an entirely different thing to respect them. Leadership revolves completely around respect, giving it and getting it. Think about it now. You may listen to your teachers, and enjoy hanging out with your friends, but how many people can you honestly say that you respect? And could you say why? Would you say that you are respected by others? Leadership is being respected because you respect. It’s about having enough respect for everyone around you to listen to their ideas fairly without shutting them down. It’s also about people following and respecting the leader willingly, not begrudgingly. Leadership and respect always go together, because a leader can’t lead if no one respects them enough to follow, and why on earth would you follow a leader that you have no respect for?
Basically, leadership is an important skill that few have, but those who do are some of the most admired and respected people around. It’s about being kind but firm, never giving up, but most of all, respect. Today, notice the leaders in your community. Notice what they do to gain respect and give it. And let today be the day that you inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more than ever thought possible.
