Stephen Dubb – January 28th 2020

Leadership can be seen or heard and especially shown in many ways, shapes, and forms. I believe that there are many different definitions of the term leadership but the one that rings true to me is someone who influences a group of people. A term that comes up a lot in leadership and its different type of theories is servant leadership. I believe that every great leader exudes some sort of servant leadership. Servant leaders main goal is to serve. They believe in the betterment of others which will in return better themselves. I believe that it doesn’t matter how old you are but it’s the qualities you have. Anyone at any age can take up a leadership role in most situations. A core characteristic of servant leadership is to go beyond one’s self-interest. The role of the servant leader is to create opportunities that help the followers. This type of leader leads by example instead of commanding his or her following. Many leadership styles focus on the well-being of the organization, where, in servant leadership, the leader centers his or her attention on serving followers and is genuinely concerned about their personal growth and well-being. Servant leadership rises through the need to serve and put others needs ahead of the leader’s own needs.

It was amazing to see servant leaders in action and in their element. We traveled south of the border with an organization called Border Angels, whose goal is to make the needs of the community known. By doing this, they also help those in need. The staff have devoted their lives to serving and making the lives of those that need help better. We brought donations and distributed different items to those in need. They organize trips, and bring awareness to the lives of those who we wouldn’t otherwise know about. Thinking further into it, during the experience it was apparent that the parents themselves who live in the immigrant shelters are in fact leaders. They serve their family and often suffer themselves so their family will hopefully live better in the future. They will do whatever it takes to make a better life for their families. They are powered and driven by love. They are servants.

I hope to in many ways to embody what it means to be a servant leader. That is why this experience to go to Mexico was so impactful for me. I want to help and serve the world to make it a better place to live for all. Serving offers hope and happiness to those in despair. It is a showing of love which is something everyone needs at times. Love is what drives all of us and especially those who are servant leaders. Love connects the world and makes it a better place. We must learn to love our neighbor so then we can then in turn love ourselves. As we learned and saw it painted on one of the shelters, “Amor es la repuesta” meaning “Love is the answer.”