Leading by Example by Dylan

Leading by Example by Dylan - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Coach Don Shula said, “I don’t know of any other way to lead but by example.” One person who has been a leader and mentor to me is Coach Donnie Gillilan, my former high school football coach and teacher. Coach Gillilan has influenced my life on and off the field. He has pushed, pulled, and encouraged me to be the best that I can be in all areas of my life. Under his leadership, I have grown as an athlete and a person. The lessons I learned while playing football under Coach Gillilan will influence me long after I have graduated from high school and will help me to succeed in college and my future career.
Coach Gillilan has been a great motivator to me. On the field, he would see the things that I was struggling with and would point out ways for me to improve. When I felt like giving up or quitting, he had an encouraging word that would give me the desire to continue. No matter how tough things got, or how many games we ended up losing, I could always count on Coach Gillilan to have the right words to encourage me to keep on giving my best. The important thing was finishing what we started, even if we did not get the outcome we desired. I grew mentally and physically tough as a result.
While football has been a big part of my high school experience, Coach Gillilan helped me to see that football is not the most important thing in life. Coach always said, “Grades in the classroom translate to the way you play the sport.” On many occasions, he stressed that if someone were not giving one hundred percent in the classroom, then that individual would not give one hundred percent on the field. Coach Gillilan has influenced my desire to do my best in the classroom by having a commitment to learn and follow through with effort to be the best student I can be.
Finally, the characteristic about Coach Gillilan that has made the biggest difference in my life is his faith. He lives his life as an example of what he believes; which is putting God first. No matter what happened in a game, he let us know that he still believed in us and only wanted what was best for us. Because of him, I have grown in my faith. I have tried to live my life so that others will know that my faith is the foundation of all that I do. Following Coach Gillilan’s example, I try to let my actions on the field and in life speak louder than my words.
The lessons I have learned by playing football under Coach Gillilan’s leadership are ones I will take with me throughout my life. Dedication, perseverance, motivation, and focus are all qualities that Coach Gillilan possesses which make him a great leader. He has helped me recognize and embrace my full potential as I prepare for the future.