Slanting Sun

This was one of the college essays I had to write. I had to choose a time that I showed leadership. I think it’s a good example of taking charge in a panicky situation, and I think it all worked out very well.

The sun had begun its decent hours ago, the canopy of leaves along with the clouding sky didn’t help the rapidly depleting light source. Shadows appeared and then disappeared in the distance, it was silent, save the crunching of leaves, twigs and the rare call of a bird or scurry of a squirrel. Rain started to tickle the leaves of the trees, and an eerie feeling descended on the group.

After begging our troop leaders to go on a hike by ourselves, troop 222; my Girl Scout troop bolted off. Ever since then we had been wandering through first the green trail, then the red, yellow, blue, green trails for hours.

The group broke into utter chaos;

“There still isn’t any cell service!”

“We are never getting outa here!”

“Everyone! Calm down, and listen to me! We are getting out of here, and we don’t need a cell phone to do it! I will get us back!”

One of the smaller girls had climbed up onto a rock and taken charge, that girl was me, and to my surprise, everyone listened. I formed a line and took the lead; they followed without question. I had shown them a sense of security; given them hope, I lead the way.

I traversed our way back through the woods, the markings on the trees along with the natural markings like the rocks and trees. They listened to all I said, and soon enough the cabin we where staying in became discernible through the trees.

My whole life my mom has told me “Always be a leader, not a follower.” I have interpreted this in many ways. I have never been afraid to be myself, and not only carve my own way through the woods, but carve my own way through life.