Page 24 - KCN 2020

PROSE (JR2&JR3) : FIRST PLACE
T RIGHT QUALITIES
H OF A
E L E A D E R
Chia Yu Jun, JR3C
The sun was staring intensely at planet Earth. Everyone was uncomfort-
able under the sun’s gaze. Perspiration from the boys’ tanned skin started soaking
their clothes, their garments darkened slightly with their sweat. The sound of my
voice was loud and clear in the silence of the field. You could hear our heavy foot-
steps stomping the damp ground in synchronization. Frustration filled me as the
few mischievous members of my boy scouts club refused to obey my strict orders.
On that fateful day, the boys scouts organized a hiking trip in a
nearby rainforest. I was in a bad mood as I reluctantly accepted my teacher’s
offer to be the leader. We boarded a big old bus and trotted off towards our
destination. I was extremely irritated by the endless chattering of the scouts.
“This learning trip is surely going to be torturing for me,” I said to myself.
Anger was coursing uncontrollably through my veins when I couldn’t stand
my definition of purgatory any longer. My voice was the most piercing sound
I heard when I screamed for them to keep quiet. They did the opposite of
what I wanted, and I sat back in my seat with a crimson colour on my face.
When we arrived in the middle of the tropical rainforest, I commanded
the group to queue up in a neat pattern. I told them their duties in a loud voice
with a strict tone because I wanted them to fear me. I wanted them to never dare
to cross me ever again. Annoyance was written on their faces instead of fear, but
they followed my orders anyway, so I thought this was leadership. They set up a
few tents and a warm campfire. I scolded them rudely for their every mistake.
We couldn’t risk making any mistakes when we were dealing with the wild. Every
time I berated them for their mistakes, some of the boys would look down at their
boots with a guilty expression, however, some of them chose to ignore me instead.
Out of the blue, grey clouds started forming in the sky, producing
a barrier to prevent the scorching sunlight from reaching us. Everything
around us darkened a shade. I commanded the group to speed up their
progress in an urgent and angry tone. Knowing the consequences of their dis-
obedience towards me in that situation, they listened and executed my ever
order. We were safe in our tents before the thunderstorm could shower us with
it’s deadly acid rain or strike us with it’s lightning. The heavy rain was hitting
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hard on the roof of our tents, raindrops sliding down the mountain with ease.
Nervousness was creeping up my spine as I stared at the droplets of rain
through the thin layer of transparent material. We were forced to stay in
our small tents throughout the night as the grey clouds failed to disperse quickly.
I immediately knew why I felt hopeless and scared; the landmarks we
left were destroyed by the irresistible force of the rain.
Something happened the following morning, an experience
I refuse to revisit, in spite of our great accomplishment. The other scouts
looked at me with a puzzled expression. Obviously, they hadn’t seen me like
this before. I told them about the missing landmarks and the look of com-
prehension finally reached their faces. I felt like such a failure; it was hard to
accept the truth that I was a clueless of how to escape this complicated realm.
Checking the weather report was one of my responsibilities but I had for-
gotten completely to do so in the past few days. My life long confidant came
forward to place a hand on my shoulder, but I shook it off. “You want me to
lead the group but I don’t think I have the right qualities,” I said miserably.
“Maybe it’s because the boys think you’re too bossy. You don’t respect
them enough,” my friend replied softly. I finally realized that I was extremely
self-centered and rude towards everyone around me.
` I apologized to all the members of the scouts club guiltily. I
flicked through possible solutions in my head, searching for efficient
ways to get us to safety. Suddenly, the fact that the teacher in charge
would be sending rescue teams on our tails passed through my mind.
I ordered the scouts to follow me on my journey to search for drier
land, no hint of angriness hearable in my tone. After a long and arduous
search, we finally found a place where the rain hadn’t lain it’s fingers on.
We collected dry sticks and dry leaves to create a fire. The group was more
willing to follow my orders as I approached them with a friendlier attitude. I
held a cloth on top of the burning flame and sent clouds of smoke into the air.
After a few impossibly long hours, the rescue team finally found us. My
heart exploded with relief as the group and I gratefully followed them out of the
forest. Assuagement was the expression on my teacher’s face when we
came into his sights. He praised me for my leadership skills, something
I never thought anybody would do, and the other scouts nodded their
heads in approval. I finally learnt a valuable lesson in life: if you wanted
to be treated with respect, you must treat people with respect as well.
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