The Stream

So this whole being involved thing isn’t always exactly what I expect. Though most of the time its great to be busy, to feel needed, and to make a difference, occasionally, the feeling is quite the opposite.

Now I’m not talking about being overwhelmed with responsibility or being too involved. Though people tell me I am, I’m yet to feel this way. The balance has been struck, and the only thing that tampers with it is the unexpected.

And unexpected is what I got.

As the President of Wall Residential College, I was on the selections committee to pick which residents would be returning. It was only logical that I do so, especially since I knew most of them, and interacted with them on a community level. I was excited about this additional responsibility . . . . . . until people got their emails letting them know if they were invited back or not.

Suddenly, it was NOT exciting anymore. People were upset with me, not realizing that I was only part of a selections process much larger than my personal relationship with them. The backlash was extraordinary in the fact that I didn’t anticipate it at ALL. I know how I deal with conflict, and I assumed that everyone would deal the same way. Unfortunately, not everyone is as reserved about their sentiments. People openly called me out on it and even approached me, criticizing my choices.

Woodrow Wilson once said, “The man swimming against the stream knows the strength of it.” I didn’t anticipate ever being in a position where I’d be in that stream. But I guess that’s the definition of leadership . . . .doing what makes everybody happy and doing what makes nobody happy and treating the two sets of actions the same way. Public approval, though very necessary for a leader, sometimes is superseded by a duty and obligation to the larger community. It’s one of those tough choices I never thought I’d have to make, but now that I’m here, I’m a leader. And I have to make those choices.

What I have to remind myself from time to time is that leadership is not supposed to be easy. In the end, its worth it, because I know that the best possible community is going to be returning to Wall next year. Hopefully, you incoming freshman will realize that too when you interact with these kids next fall.

And when you all tell me how much fun you’re having at Wall, I’ll think back on all this for a brief moment, and then smile and move on.

I sure know the strength of this stream.

But regardless of how strong the current, I’m going to keep swimming.