Acting on What I Have
I have been really struggling to figure out what I need to do to become a better leader. I have had some great examples, but I don't know that I am making the impact that they had. I guess they probably felt the same way, but that still doesn't comfort me. So I decided I had to do the little things. Leaders aren't great because of a few great deeds. No, I feel that what makes a leader is what he or she does in the little opportunities they have. But then there is the worry of being overly sentimental, fake, or just annoying.
Either way, I decided to do what I could when the chance came. Well walking to class I saw a freshman with a flag on his shoulder that I hadn't seen before. That meant he was a foreign exchange student who would attend the Academy as every other cadet does. I had the prompting to talk to him, I quickly ignored it until it came blasting through again. So in a battle against, well probably my own insecurity, I turned around and asked what country he was from. His African accent was very thick when he said "Gabon." I had never heard of this country so I asked where it was: Central Africa. How big is it, because some countries are crazy small. He said it was about the size of Colorado. Dang! That would mean low funding and a small military force. It's countries like these that really benefit from having a strong alliance with the US. I asked about his country's Air Force. He said they were very small but did have a few planes. He did say it was a big deal for him to come to the US Air Force Academy. I can only imagine.
These foreign students amaze me. Their countries find a way to get them to our Academy and then these cadets are almost guaranteed to become Generals back home. But if the Academy sends them home early, it can be devastating to the country and the cadet. There are severe repercussions This means that most of the time they are way on top of their game. I like being around them, they complain very little, work hard, and have hard majors because that is what their country says they have to study. Most study Aeronautical Engineering, like me. I almost prefer being around them to many American Cadets. I find that sad. Thankfully I can learn from them and better myself that way.
Either way, I decided to do what I could when the chance came. Well walking to class I saw a freshman with a flag on his shoulder that I hadn't seen before. That meant he was a foreign exchange student who would attend the Academy as every other cadet does. I had the prompting to talk to him, I quickly ignored it until it came blasting through again. So in a battle against, well probably my own insecurity, I turned around and asked what country he was from. His African accent was very thick when he said "Gabon." I had never heard of this country so I asked where it was: Central Africa. How big is it, because some countries are crazy small. He said it was about the size of Colorado. Dang! That would mean low funding and a small military force. It's countries like these that really benefit from having a strong alliance with the US. I asked about his country's Air Force. He said they were very small but did have a few planes. He did say it was a big deal for him to come to the US Air Force Academy. I can only imagine.
These foreign students amaze me. Their countries find a way to get them to our Academy and then these cadets are almost guaranteed to become Generals back home. But if the Academy sends them home early, it can be devastating to the country and the cadet. There are severe repercussions This means that most of the time they are way on top of their game. I like being around them, they complain very little, work hard, and have hard majors because that is what their country says they have to study. Most study Aeronautical Engineering, like me. I almost prefer being around them to many American Cadets. I find that sad. Thankfully I can learn from them and better myself that way.
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