Leadership

by Sean Chen, 12th Grade, CA, USA

Passion has the transformative power to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. It’s not just an emotion; it’s a driving force that propels individuals to overcome challenges, inspire others, and achieve greatness. This revelation dawned upon me during my 9th-grade year when I encountered Arya, the captain of our robotics team, and witnessed firsthand the profound impact of this quality in his leadership.

One month before the world championship, our robotics team came up with the ambitious idea of a dual-speed drivetrain that could switch between gear ratios for speed and torque. With limited time and skepticism within the team, it was Arya who eventually pushed us to pursue this idea through his determination and unwavering confidence—and I was ready to follow his lead. From the moment the idea was born, he began creating a timeline for building the gearbox and structure of the drivetrain.

Arya delegated separate tasks to each team member and individually monitored our progress. On one occasion, he decisively told me to remove the entire gearbox because I accidentally put a screw in the wrong hole. When I argued that the mistake didn’t significantly impact the robot, he told me that any error—big or small—could have a cascading effect on our performance. At the time, I was annoyed by such meticulous demands, but in retrospect, decisions like these allowed us to complete the drivetrain successfully. 

Through this experience, I witnessed Arya’s leadership style—a tapestry woven with threads of determination, decisiveness, and vision. However, passion was the vibrant hue that brought the entire composition to life. It manifested in the late-night brainstorming sessions, the infectious optimism, and the unwavering commitment to turning our ambitious concept into a tangible reality. Arya’s insistence on perfection, even in seemingly insignificant details, revealed the depth of his passion—a passion that demanded excellence in every facet of our project.

Arya’s influence didn’t just shape my understanding of leadership; it ignited a desire to embrace opportunities to influence others meaningfully. As captain of my robotics team, I’ve used his traits as fundamental guiding principles as I learn to manage my team. An essential facet of my leadership style has been to hold each of my teammates accountable for everything they do to inspire their attention to detail. In meetings, we thoroughly plan each step of progress and establish hard deadlines for completing tasks. This approach not only mirrors Arya’s emphasis on precision but also cultivates a culture of responsibility and excellence within the team. Expanding beyond robotics, my role as president of Science Olympiad at my school has also allowed me to leverage my leadership to infuse passion into my others. Through showcasing my hard work and effort, I aim to inspire a committed work ethic among my peers and develop a genuine love for mastering diverse topics. 

Reflecting on Arya’s leadership, I’ve realized that passion isn’t just about excitement; it’s about instilling a profound sense of purpose. Passion isn’t loud and ostentatious; it is a quiet flame that burns brightly, guiding us through challenges and inspiring us to push our limits. In moments of frustration and fatigue, passion ignites a team’s spirits, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth.

Arya’s legacy extends beyond a successful drivetrain; his imprint of passion lingers in our team's ethos. Looking ahead, I envision a future where this passion continues to be a driving force in robotics and every other endeavor. As I lead, I carry on Arya’s lesson—a lesson that reminds me authentic leadership lies in nourishing a culture where each person, driven by passion, adds to a shared brilliance that surpasses the limitations of individual achievements.