I had often times being elected the captain of the class ever since middle school (primary school in Nigeria) and I thought I understood what leadership embodied because the task was effortless. They included: writing down names of students who disrupt the class, distribute student notebooks and direct students to their next class. However, I got my first real leadership experience at the age of fourteen and my perception changed. I learned responsibility, patience and assertiveness through my leadership position. I held the position of the head girl of my old school in Nigeria. Securing this position required a long and arduous process. It is a norm that is still in existence for all schools in Nigeria to elect an executive of students who
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I was excited about my leadership position and I focused on being a successful leader who would direct, guide and influence students to be productive members of our school society. Our duties were to ensure that students adhered to the school rules and regulations, to ensure decorum in the school environment, and cleanliness and diligence in the part of the student. We were responsible for the actions of all students and bore the consequences for student errors. We were also expected to possess those traits and be role models for the students. However, I forgot a little detail. I was a five foot, eighty-five pounds, fourteen year old girl who had to lead six foot, 120 pounds junior boys, some of them older than me. I was intimidated by their physique. I was also evident that they belittled me because of my petite stature. When I gave an instruction, the male students would look down at me and walk away. Most of the older students were reluctant to accept that a little girl had authority over them. During student-teacher meetings, prefects are in charge of maintaining decorum in a hall filled with three hundred adolescents. Due to my little stature, I was limited in discharging my duties effectively because the students disregarded my authority. I despised being small. Notwithstanding my size, I stood my ground. I knew my authority and I would not be bullied and disparaged by students. I,
I was excited about my leadership position and I focused on being a successful leader who would direct, guide and influence students to be productive members of our school society. Our duties were to ensure that students adhered to the school rules and regulations, to ensure decorum in the school environment, and cleanliness and diligence in the part of the student. We were responsible for the actions of all students and bore the consequences for student errors. We were also expected to possess those traits and be role models for the students. However, I forgot a little detail. I was a five foot, eighty-five pounds, fourteen year old girl who had to lead six foot, 120 pounds junior boys, some of them older than me. I was intimidated by their physique. I was also evident that they belittled me because of my petite stature. When I gave an instruction, the male students would look down at me and walk away. Most of the older students were reluctant to accept that a little girl had authority over them. During student-teacher meetings, prefects are in charge of maintaining decorum in a hall filled with three hundred adolescents. Due to my little stature, I was limited in discharging my duties effectively because the students disregarded my authority. I despised being small. Notwithstanding my size, I stood my ground. I knew my authority and I would not be bullied and disparaged by students. I,