Started with Failure: Ended with Success by Drew

Started with Failure: Ended with Success by Drew - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

During the summer of 2015, I attended a Business of Engineering program. The program is a rigorous two-week daytime summer event for promising high school students. Hampton University’s School of Engineering & Technology and School of Business hosts the program. The program demonstrates how one can utilize engineering and business together in life. The program interacts students in problem-solving and team-building by embarrassing participation in design contests, case studies, and educational field trips.

After the first day of camp, the counselors divided us into four groups. Each group elected a president, and my group voted for me to be theirs. Each day for the rest of the two weeks we were all tested and had to complete group challenges.

The first challenge consisted of us going around the entire campus on a scavenger hunt. My group and I had started with the farthest building, and we even split up a few times so we could kill time. There about ten buildings on the scavenger hunt list, and after our sixth or seventh one, we were completely lost. We received wrong directions from a fellow, which took us farther from our destination. Once, I was under the impression that we were not going in the right direction I informed my teammates. After that discovery, we headed back and found the building. By this time the hunt was over with, and everyone else had returned. The advisors had to pick us up in a van because we were so far. My group and I had failed terribly. As their leader, I could only blame myself because it was my responsibility to keep everyone organized and to manage our time wisely.

The second challenge required my group and me to assemble an affordable yet effective watercraft. We remained within our given budget, and we had more than enough money left over. Our boat stayed afloat, but it was extremely slow. We succeeded in our boat being affordable and semi-effective. We were unsuccessful because our boat took too long in the race. Again, my group and I had failed. We were so concerned with the amount of time that was given to build our vessel and the cost of building it, that we forgot to check if it was able to pick up speed. I failed as my group's leader because I forgot to check to see if everything was in order.

The third challenge was a game of Jenga. My group and I made it to the final round, but unfortunately, we lost. I made the mistake of getting upset with my teammate who accidently cost us the game. The other members and I did not react all too well. It was my responsibility to maintain a positive attitude, and I should not have lashed out on my peer and nor should have the other members.

The fourth challenge required my group and me to assemble an ROV underwater robot. Next, we had to control our robot to pick up as many rings in the pool in a minute. My teammate asked to direct the robot controller because he admitted that he played video games all of the time. My group and I lost, and we had the least amount of rings picked up out of everyone else. I learned from the last challenge not to attack my mate, but to simply compliment him on his effort. My team and I were not upset at all, and the challenge brought us closer.

The fifth and final challenge of the program was the most critical one. My teammates and I were responsible for presenting a case study on How to Conserve Hampton University’s Energy in front of the summer program’s donors. Before our presentation, my group and I had a meeting to reflect. I apologized to them for my actions as their leader, and they apologized in return for not putting in as much of an effort as they could have. After we discussed and learned more about one another, we excelled as a team and trusted one another. It is because of this discussion why my team and I won the case study.

My constant failing helped me learn what it took to be a great leader. I made some mistakes along the way, but I quickly learned from them. I applied what I had learned so I could do better and be better going forward. I learned how important it is to be a good listener, patient with others, open-minded, and trusting. I had to listen to my peers in order for me to make the required changes and improve upon my leadership style. I also realized that I needed to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses in order for us to accomplish our goals and objectives. I needed to look beyond my needs and desires for the group and pay closer attention to everyone else’s. In addition, I needed to have faith in my team and know that they would get the job done.