Nelson Mandela

I think that the biggest reasons that Nelson Madela was so important are not necessarily what he did, but what he stood for, and that is why we as leaders need to learn about him. Don't get me wrong, all the things he did and lived through were INCREDIBLE like his fight to liberate South Africa and his push for the Universal Decleration of Human Rights, but I think that we as students can take more away from his fundamentals. Here are what I think are his top 5:

-Have big ambitions...
“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
While playing small might be easier it also comes with nagging thoughts at the back of your head that say “Is this all there is? Could I have done more?”. Taking the tough road is of course harder in many ways. But it is also there you find the truly awesome triumphs and wonderful times that you may never have experienced otherwise.

-Move TOWARDS your fear...
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Fear is often based on unhelpful interpretation.
Be curious.
Don’t cling to your illusion of safety.

-Be patient and persist...
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
It would be nice if we got anything we wanted right now. That seldom happens. One of the key traits of successful people is that they persist and have patience where others simply have had enough and go home.

-Make friends out of your enemies...
“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”
Turning an enemy or someone we don’t like into a friend is difficult because first impressions can be powerful. Our concept of a person can remain intact if we don’t push further and question and explore it.The key and the way out here is to not take your thoughts or emotions too seriously. To stay on top of them instead of letting them overwhelm and control you.
This can allow you to open your mind to a change in the relationship.

-You haven't lost until you don't get up...
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.”
Your road to success may not be as bad as it was for Mandela and the people in South Africa. But you will probably have some bad times and some difficult and painful times.
When you first get started with something you can be filled with enthusiasm and perfect dreams. Somewhere down the line it can become a bit messier and more uncertain. Sometimes maybe it is time to quit and find something new to focus on. But oftentimes it’s like the world is testing you. It wonders if you really want this bad enough. That’s when you need to push forward and not let temporary obstacles stop you.
Failing is normal. Making mistakes is normal. The people with most success are often the people who failed the most. They learned from their mistakes and failures, grew stronger and more resilient and persisted while the rest of the people gave up.