National Honor Society Induction and Senior Ceremony

I have been asked to speak on leadership. I've given a great deal of thought about what I might share briefly, and I suppose when I am done you'll be saying I should have thought about it some more!

Everyone of you has been chosen because you have exhibited leadership. You know what it is so I would like to talk more on the difficulties of leadership, which perhaps you haven't yet experienced.

 

First, why is it so important? United States Army General Mark W. Clark said, "All nations seek the electric and elusive quality known as leadership constantly, because it is the key to greatness, sometimes to survival. Where does juvenile delinquency begin? In leaderless families. Where do slums fester? In leaderless cities. Which armies falter? Which political parties fail? Poorly led ones."

 I believe, above all else, leadership takes courage. It takes courage to live with and to follow your conscience. And that courage sets leaders aparts. Loneliness is the price of leadership. The price of adherence to conscience and to principle. In this school, it might not be bad. We had 27 members this past year, and 16 are getting inducted today. One of the great things this society does is prepare you for future leadership roles. And eventually you won't have the people here. You'll feel alone. The price of adherence to conscience, of adherence to principle is loneliness. You need courage.

A religious man by the name of Gordon B. Hinckley has said, "It isn't easy to be virtuous when all about you there are those who scoff at virtue. It isn't easy to be honest when all about you there are those interested only in making a fast buck. It isn't easy to be temperate when all about you there are those who scoff at sobriety. It isn't easy to be industrious when all about you there are those who don't believe in the value of homework. It isn't easy to be a man of integrity when all about you there are those who will forsake principle for expediency."

It doesn't matter if you have a fancy title or not. When you have the courage to stand up for what you believe in, you are a leader and will have peace.

A man once related how at church one Sunday he was sitting on the stand looking at the audience and he noticed four or five young boys who every now and then would all simultaneously uncross their left leg and cross their right. Or later they would all comb their hair with their right hand, or lean on their left wrist. Finally, he figured it out. They were copying him. 

And so it is with us. We have been placed in a position of leadership and responsibility in this school and people will be watching us all the time. They will follow our examples. Have the courage to be leaders.