Overcoming a differing perspective through teamwork by James

Overcoming a differing perspective through teamwork by James - March 2024 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my life, I have been fortunate enough to be able to surround myself with people from all walks of life. I have been able to hear differing perspectives and learn how others view the world. During this past summer, I was able to go on a leadership trip in Colorado. I was placed in a group of 12 kids from across the country, none of whom were from my home state of North Carolina. Since every other kid was from a different part of the country we all saw the world in a different light, we had all grown up in different environments and had different stories to tell. As a part of this leadership program, we had to rely on each other in team-building exercises such as Via Ferrara, a climbing technique where 4 climbers are bound together with rope. I had to rely on people I had just met putting my life in their hands.

By putting my life in the hands of others we had to fit into roles to make sure that a task would be completed and to make sure everyone was safe and secure. This caused a truly special bond to sprout between individuals who had met each other only days prior. Through the team building exercises I learned that with the right goal in mind, any group of people can work together to overcome an obstacle.

I would like to take what I learned from the leadership retreat and apply it to my everyday life. By working with individuals from all over and with different perspectives I was able to become more open to ideas that stray from my personal beliefs and hear what others think on a specific subject of matter. I would like to take the leadership skills and teamwork skills that I learned and strengthen and apply them not only to sports that I partake in but also to work in groups in school and the workforce.

By taking what I have learned on the leadership retreat I will be able to become a better leader, team member, and overall person.