Poetiray 1

Mandy 10A
Pak Rapco
Christian Religion
27 September 2019
Midterm Assessment
“What does it mean to be a leader?” my teacher once asked me that in front of the
class. I’ve never considered myself to be a leader. If you want to know some things about me,
I’m that one shy kid in class who rarely speaks. So, whenever a teacher asks a question in
class, my first instinct is to wish and hope that I don’t get picked to answer the question.
“Kelly, would you like to answer the question?” the teacher asked.
Here we go again. Obviously, I know how to answer the question but I was just too
scared that people would judge me if I say the wrong thing. I remember that one time where
my teacher called me to answer the math equation on the board and people were laughing at
me because I got the answer wrong. My class probably teased me for about a week before
they decided to forget about it and move on to the next thing as if they have nothing better to
do. I proceeded to stand up from the chair slowly and dragged myself in front of the class.
“I guess for me being a leader is someone that people can trust to build them up,
influence other decision-makers, listen to the people who choose to follow, and do my best to
strengthen a team,” I said doubtfully.
The class was really silent and that definitely doesn’t help my anxiety at all. I wasn’t
sure whether I should go back to my chair or not, but the deafening ring of the bell made me
sigh a breath of relief.
As people were rushing out of the classroom, I proceeded to fix my things from the
table and rush out of the classroom until I heard someone call my name from behind me.
“Kelly, can you stay behind for a while please?” my teacher pleaded to me.
From the question itself, it sounded as if Ms. Holloway was asking me something
serious. I immediately poised myself, as I understood the urgency of the question and asked
her what she needed help with.
“I know you’re a very good student, the way you answered the question just now was
unlike what I expected from you. I just want to talk to you for a while to help you be more
confident in yourself and your opinions,” Ms. Holloway said.
“Ms. Holloway, I understand that you’re trying to help me to be a better person, but I
just can’t help what people will think of me if I suddenly change into this ‘leader’ that you
 Poetiray 2

want me to be. I never envision myself to be a leader and I just don’t like the fact of messing
up and disappointing those who I try to lead,” I stated with a sigh.
“Alright then, I understand,” Ms. Holloway paced back and forth the room, “but think
about what I said, alright?” She quickly moved to the door and suddenly went back to her
desk to get a book that is covered with leather.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Ms. Holloway proceeded to open the Bible, “Have you ever
heard of 1 Timothy 4:12?” I admit, I definitely am not the most religious person in the world,
but I asked her what the verse was about.”
“The verse states Let no one despise your youth; instead you should be an example to
the believers in speech, conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” Ms. Holloway said joyfully.
Initially, I didn’t understand what the point of this verse was, but she explained that although
we are young, God has put us in this earth to lead others and be good to other people.
“Don’t be ashamed of being young and use the authority that God has given you,”
Ms. Holloway said, full of hope, “you may not find it now, or you may not change now, but
always refer to this verse when you have doubt in your beliefs or when you feel doubt in
yourself, alright.”
I nodded as I left the classroom.
--
Two years later and now I reside in Grade 9. I’ve definitely grown a lot compared to
who I was last year. I managed to become student body president, captain of the girls’
basketball team and even join the school’s choir. I’ve never really talked about it to anyone
but I’ve got to say, the verse that Ms. Holloway have given me really changed myself.
Just about 8 months ago, Ms. Holloway, my English teacher, passed away in her
sleep. She was 65 years old, pretty old for a teacher but not for life on this earth. Her passing
really struck me and it reminded me of the verse she has given me. Back then, I was still the
shy, young girl that everyone knew and I intend to honor her passing by changing people’s
lives. 2 months after, I started signing up for different extracurricular activities and even tried
out for the student body president.
On the day of the debate, I was so scared that I almost backed out from running. What
made me stick to my decision was because I got reminded of Ms. Holloway’s words and
what she thought me on that day. I knew that I wasn’t going to let Ms. Holloway down.
So, here I am two years later after the day that Ms. Holloway changed my whole life.
If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be able to show other young people what it is to be a good
example to others.