The Journey of Being a Leader Anonymous

As the curtain rose on our school’s 50th annual program at Shilpakala Vedika, the spotlight operator looked confused. My heart skipped a beat. Minutes earlier, a last-minute change in the performance order had left the backstage crew scrambling. If the lights didn’t follow the performers, the evening could unravel before an audience of hundreds.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped in. “Give me 10 minutes,” I told him, quickly sketching out the new sequence and assigning cues. With the spotlight now aligned, the program flowed seamlessly—every scene illuminated at just the right moment. That night, I learned that leadership often means being calm under pressure, trusting your instincts, and ensuring others can perform their best.

This moment was just one chapter in my journey as Head Boy of a school with 400 students. Beyond the stage, I found myself navigating challenges that tested not only my decision-making but also my empathy. For instance, food delays in the cafeteria had become a recurring issue. The frustration among students was palpable, and it disrupted their schedules. Listening to their concerns, I proposed a feedback system that allowed students to report issues directly to the administration. The results were almost...