Al Mando by Pablo

Al Mando by Pablo - May 2024 Scholarship Essay

Two buckets, three loaves of bread, and a donkey. These were the only things Pedro Lizarraga, my grandfather, carried before he set foot on his treacherous journey of nearly 742 miles from the rural countryside of El Recodo Sinaloa in hopes of reaching the proclaimed riches of the gold town Caborca in Sonora. Accompanied by his twelve brothers and sisters, he led his entire family onto perhaps the biggest hurdle of his teenage years. In these moments, individuals humble themselves to provide for others and set a common goal unachievable individually.
Although extreme, my grandfather set a precedent for what I consider the value of leadership. Its merit stems from knowing the capabilities and strengths of others to mix them for a common goal. Additionally, respecting others and humbling yourself for others is just one of the leadership values Pedro would soon demonstrate. My grandfather had no idea what was to come; all he knew was that preserving his family to reach Caborca was something he would do anything for. Without knowing it, my grandfather would soon demonstrate leadership by sacrificing food for his siblings and encouraging everyone to keep pushing forward.
Along the way, the lingering hunger between the family grew restless. Despite this, my grandfather kept motivating his siblings to continue walking and think of what they would eventually do in Caborca. Even though he was unquestionably the most hungry and tired of them all, he kept rationing the bread only to the youngest first and leaving tiny bits for himself. It was not until they reached Culiacan that they could all finally be satisfied and energetic enough to keep walking. Another quality my grandfather possessed that ties back to leadership was perseverance. He could have settled in Culiacan, avoiding the impending danger that lay ahead in the vast empty wilderness between the Sonora and Sinaloa border, but remained his mind fixed on Caborca, making sure all of his siblings did not get distracted by the dangers of Culiacan from cartels and gang wars.
Passing through Ciudad Obregon and having to camp for innumerable days, the family had doubts about reaching Caborca or even surviving. The climate change had made the younger siblings get a devastating heatstroke. Since they hadn't restocked much on food or water, they reached an all-time low on morality. In the face of adversity and obstacles, my grandfather never gave up. This is where his leadership skills were portrayed. Having a mind focused on one goal, invigorating others through words or actions, listening to people, and dealing with conflicts justly without thinking of self-gain is what I consider leadership.
Eventually, Pedro and his family made it to Caborca, and he continued living there, working and providing for the rest of his life for his siblings, wife, and kids. In summary, leadership is the collection of positive moral values and using them to help other people achieve a common goal. This example of a man who was able to encourage his family to push forward and deal with hardships is someone who demonstrated leadership in my life.