When we typically think of leaders, we tend to picture someone famous or well-known. However, leading doesn’t always require starting a huge movement or something that will affect a large group of people. Leading can be the smallest of things and only affect one person. Something as small as asking how your day was, a simple text, or a gesture to make someone feel special.

We watch people’s work ethics, priorities, and relationships and determine for ourselves what we admire about a person. We are lead everyday by at least one person in some type of way. Our leaders give us a sense of direction and are our greatest motivators besides ourselves.

My friends and family members are the biggest leaders of them all. I’ve learned to be compassionate and generous from my mother. I’ve learned to be driven and patient from my father. I’ve learned to successfully balance an academic and social life from my friends. I can even go on to tell you how much I have learned from the people I consider myself not close with.

As for me, I consider myself lucky to have observed some of the greatest people and hope that one day I can lead in ways they have. To me, one of the best leaders can be defined as someone who teaches you to enjoy life. In addition to the best leaders being the ones who are nothing but kind and selfless. Most of my leaders are the people I value most in life which are friends and family. They lead me to realize what positive qualities and values are important.

Life moves fast and unfortunately it only gets quicker. In life, we learn something from everyone whether we pick up on it or not. People touch us in ways that we rarely recognize until being reminded. We are the people we are today not solely based on our choices but the choices of who we surround yourself with. Keep shining because like the people that have impacted us, we are also impacting someone else. We are our own leaders, but also our own observers.

In Memory of Annie Cates