A Leader Is . . .

I was recently putting together a writing prompt for some students applying to become Peer Leaders and I came across a quote that made me smile: A leader is a leader because they can hide panic. This works on so many levels! At home, a mom has to be a leader and a calming influence. At school, a teacher has to be able to stifle the adrenaline and panic so as to maintain the control in the classroom. In the world, the ones that panic and run away usually aren't the ones that are followed.

I know that this saying was probably meant for leaders of men and women in battle, or great speakers trying to influence the multitudes towards an action that would undoubtedly end world suffering. But, I will keep it in mind at home and in the classroom - my battlefields.

When my 8 year old's teacher calls and lets me know that my daughter will be spending the rest of the week in lunch detention for faking amnesia for one full hour, I will hide the panic. When my 5 year old brings home his Kindergarten "Theme Bag", a tremendous honor that usually equates to one hour of homework, I will hide the panic. When my 4 year old daughter tells me that it will be hard to find one person to marry because all boys look handsome to her, I will hide the panic. And, when my 1 year old is well . . already 1 . . I will hide the panic. When my husband tells me that he is going to be playing golf with his buddies on a Sunday I will . . . okay, maybe sometimes I am just not meant to be a leader.

I am sure that the same ability to hide panic or fear should hold true as I teach. In all honesty, my main goal for most of my students is to teach them to panic. Maybe the quote should have another couple clauses:

A leader is a leader because they can hide panic.
A follower is a follower because they show too much panic.
The wanderer gets lost in the world because they never feel the panic.

I guess a little panic is a good thing, it fuels our actions. As for me, I will continue to hide it, that is until all those that I need to lead are dismissed from class or are sleeping peacefully in their beds.