'being a leader' oportunities
Throughout my life, I have been blessed with the opportunities of being a leader several times and I would provide examples only the significant ones here.
I have experience an important leadership with being a president of the pharmaceutical student association. Since the university has the mission of public and community service, as the president of the organization, I have to take up and respond to that policy. Because many services are served for people in the city, I initiate the project in helping hill tribe people who lack of the amenities. Some argue the idea as it benefits only small group of people while others support strongly. I have to be neutral and broaden my mind as both sides have interesting lines of reasoning. After brain storming and careful discussion, the project is accepted by all team members democratically. I share the work to the members and get them the responsibility to work following their skills e.g. budget management, raising fund, activity formers, etc. On the day of event, everything is set up properly with collaboration from public and private sectors that we have been dealing with. We donate some food, clothes and medicine for hill tribe people. Team members who are responsible for educating people about health and medicine facilitate the activity with eagerness. Working for this project is not easy since I have to deal with different kinds of people and face many difficulties along the way. However, I have to make the decision carefully and lead the team enthusiastically. What I have learn from being the leader this time are to be firmed, foresighted, responsible, good listener and good team management.
Another my valuable leadership is to lead people in the community to value herbs which commonly found in the area. With pharmaceutical knowledge background I have, I think herbal cosmetic products (e.g. shampoo, soap, body lotion etc.) are another opportunity for community business. At first the local people think it is not possible for them to develop the products and they also do not realise how this project would benefit them in long term. Convincing people to believe your own idea is not easy. I try very hard to explain my idea and demonstrate how to make about 500 millilitres of herbal shampoo which the component of butterfly pea are added. Finally they can produce and run a small business of those products. As they can produce themselves, they do not need to buy those kind of expensive cosmetics. This can be called self-sustainable economy. Throughout this experience I have gained important qualities of leader especially arts of motivating others, leading by example and dedicating yourself to public benefits.
As in all things, leadership is the quality of one's behavior to empower other in attaining goals. Some people have that quality runs in their genes while others try very hard to be a leader. However, it can be leaned and strengthen as those experiences have shaped me to be a good leader.