Applying on Chevening; "Do not wait on a leader...look in the mirror, it's you!" - Katherine Miracle

"Do not wait on a leader...look in the mirror, it's you!" -- Katherine Miracle. True! Wonderful words pointed by a speaker, and it is what my dad always told me to comply in life. Every single female in Afghanistan needs a person or we can say a supporter to always make them believe that there is a leader within them, which needs to be growing day by day. My supporter is my father. He told me once: if you want to influence in someone's mind; support and lead them. I started working on being influencer not for myself or family, but the society where I was born. Day by day, I have learned that leading and supporting others will close me to this goal.

From start, in school days being class representative and basketball team captain showed me the leadership mirror. At last year of School, we had a final match of Basketball with another school and our team member was incomplete. That time, I remembered two of my classmates Zahra and Arzoo which were always watching our matches but never dare to play, although they had the knowledge of this sport. I asked them to join the team, they refused because they didn't know they have the ability to play and win. After convincing them I have start practicing with them day and night. Finally, match gets started, While playing the match I was not focusing on winning the game, my only goal was making believe Zahra and Arzoo that they can do it. Then, a time came which the last goal will lead the team to win and it was a great chance for me to goal, but I risked the team and let Arzoo to move on and try to goal. And yeah! She did it. That happiness in her eyes showed me that leadership should be more participative and enabling than directive and performing. Moreover, when I was at University, I became leading person of class team works, and always tried hard to get the highest score. Although, some other member of team were actually not participating or had some problems. But I have helped them to learn, so at least they can defeat for their selves on the day of presentation.

Furthermore, when I was working on Oxus Consulting Group, we were on project of US Department of Defense. This was about Train, Advise and Assist Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense in Afghanistan. At start, I was working as a IT technical assistant then I was promoted as IT Consultant. This project on itself was a leading project which we were helping our security ministries for growing up and being developed. At the same time, I was Master Trainer at IT female capacity building project, from World Bank to Information and Communication Ministry of Afghanistan, which were held by RANA Private University. In this project I have trained 200 afghan IT females in cybersecurity, which is a rare subject in Afghanistan. At the end of this project, my class students were chose as best students of this project, my class had the higher number of students graduated, and I got the best trainer award between all the other trainers.

To conclude, these achievements in my life, especially my work experience in OXUS Organization and Rana University has shown me that Afghanistan needs more like me. I will strive hard not just to reach my goals, but to make many other female leaders in IT security which will work side by side with me to develop Afghanistan. Coming back from Chevening with new ideas, knowledge, and experience will give me the power to hold others hand in this field, which they are waiting for.

Mawra, your story about leading your team to victory and inspiring your new teammates to believe in themselves are exactly the kind of stories that can help propel your application. It is quite an interesting story and really allows the reviewer to get to know your mindset as a leader and inspirational figure in a team. Good work on that part. However, the story about your work at the university removes the impressive work that the basketball story creates. My suggestion is to end that part of your leadership and inspirational side with the victory at the basketball game.

From that point, you should present another leadership and inspiration story based on your professional life. I am recommending that you try to portray your leadership and influencing role on the training floor. Explain how you inspire of serve as inspiration to other women in your country where women are not really allowed to rise to important positions in companies like yours. I hope you consider expanding that paragraph for the benefit of your application.

At that time, (...) Zahra and Arzoo whichwho were always (...), but would never dare to play ...
, although they had the knowledge of this sport. when asked to join, I asked them to join the team, they refused because they didn't they were unsure about their abilities know they have the ability to play and win.

@Holt
Thank you! I will consider your opinion.

@Holt, I have added one another paragraph which is about my leadership experience in professional life. please look at it once and give me your opinion which one is better, my school experience or when i was a trainer.

Also, as I have heard that a leader takes people where they want to go but a great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be. This wonderful statement matches my experience, when I was working as IT Master trainer in project of World Bank for 200 Afghan IT females-held at RANA University. My leading course was Cyber Security, which had the least amount of students at start of this project. One day, I saw one of students wanted to change her course, I asked her the reason, and she said I love to learn about IT security, but I think I cannot do it. That was a painful answer which inspired me to create a competition between girls and University's boys in Cyber Security. I divided them in two groups: first the female group, which will prevent servers from attacks, second the boys group, which will do the attacks on servers. On the day of competition I asked all the other courses and the university students to join and see the open source competition. Before going to start the competition I prepared a slide show for my students, which were about top 10 female IT security specialists in the world and their achievements. The game started, at first boys was leading the game and girls were under pressure. The opposition team won the first part which was scanning. I told my girls that I am proud of them, whatever the result will be they are the best. Next round started and this time my students did very well, but one thing which was shocking for me, was that even the other courses females were start helping my class students in preventing the attack. And finally, they made me proud and they won the competition. After that time other females, who wants to be security specialist, joined my class. And finally I graduated 58 students from my specialization.

Mawra, my opinion is that the basketball story still works better. The reason that I say that is because the basketball story shows how you brought the team together to work towards victory. You were selfless and concentrated on the benefits of teamwork and inspiring those whom you knew could be of benefit to the team. In this work essay, you have a competition between the sexes going on instead of inspiring the boys and girls to work together right from the start. That is not a sign of a true, effective, and inspirational leader. If you want to use this story, why don't you turn yourself into the inspirational character instead who leads the girl who wanted to study cyber security towards the fulfillment of her dreams instead. That way you can be both the leader and influencing force in the life of the girl.