I believe in leadership
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Leaders are the lights that guide people in total darkness. I am a leader. I believe in the power of leadership.

Breast cancer kills. I knew it, my dad knew it, and my brother and sisters knew it too. So when my mom was diagnosed with the Beast, we all thought the worst. There are five of us kids in my family – going from oldest to youngest there is Nicole, myself, Paige, Amanda, and Dan – five-thousand tons of needs and wants that my mom had to deal with daily – not to mention put up with all the quarrelling between us. I don’t know how she did it. I’m pretty sure when she dies she’ll be inducted into the Hall of Saints – or whatever God calls it.

Anyway, when us kids were told about the news, all hell broke loose. My oversensitive sisters cried rivers of sorrow and confusion. My little brother was shocked. Staring blankly frozen in time, I could tell he was pondering the possibility of being motherless. And I, well, let’s just say it would be an understatement to say I nervous as hell, but I didn’t show it. I couldn’t. I was the older brother who everyone looked up to. Stay calm and in control, that’s what I did. Similar to in Hollywood, where the “badass” doesn’t show emotion, except this shit was real. I had all night to soak in the news.

I had a few options. Feel sorry for my mom, feel sorry for my siblings and my dad, or feel sorry for myself. I could slack off in school and use it as an excuse to get out of homework and tests. I could be late to other obligations and say I was helping my mom, she has cancer. Or I could face the battle head on. This time, I didn’t choose the easy way out.

Leadership is a trait few people have. I am one of the lucky ones who possess it. That night, I made a promise to myself that I would constantly ask my mom if she needed me to do anything for her. Whether it was to clean or give rides, hell, I even cooked dinner. Cooking twice a week for four years makes you a pretty damn good cook.

My siblings noticed me trying hard to help out around the house. They listened to me, when I asked for help; they lessened the quarrels and even asked me what they could do to help. Today, I can see that my leadership has rubbed off on them.

It has been five years since my mom was diagnosed. She is completely healed. I believe through the power of leadership, my mom was able to fully heal. Rough times call for leaders to emerge and help guide those who are lost. I was that leader.

By John Myhra