“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” -Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  With the new year behind us and possibilities in front of us, there is always time to encourage and lead others to be courageous, powerful and daring. Once the bell struck midnight, it became a crazy frenzy to start a new goal, to run or not to run, a new diet that will last less than 48 hours, and to be the best version of yourself.

  Although making new goals and pursuing to be the best version of yourself is always a good thing to strive for, it is always important to not only push for a new goal but to fight for something you care about throughout the years, and not only the beginning of a recurring month.

  Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She has been known for leading many cases for gender equality and fighting for equal rights for women. According to Oyez.com article “Body Politics,” Ginsburg had first-hand experience with gender-based discrimination. As one of nine women in a class of 500 at Harvard Law School in 1956, she was admonished by high ranking administrators for “taking the place of a man.” She transferred to Columbia University to finish her law degree and graduated at the top of her class. While in law school, she also helped her husband as he battled cancer. As a leader, she has fought and won many cases to improve opportunities and pay for women.

  As a senior in high school it’s hard to listen to those around you. We want to be right all the time, to be in charge, and have control of our life. In so many situations, though it’s better to listen to what others have to say, take chances with new people, be observant, blameless, and encourage to others to follow in your footsteps. When you show others what a good follower looks like, you will quickly become the leader in any given situation. Through all four years of school I have watched good and bad leaders leave their mark on Warsaw. I quickly realized that I wanted to be a leader that encouraged others to want to make a difference.

  So in the new year, be the best version of yourself and then some. Don’t stop and go every new day, or month with a new goal and then fail some more; be a current leader, independent follower, and a thoughtful listener, with enough courage to understand your own faults, and enough passion to fight for what you believe is right.

  In any given day, new or not, a passionate and caring follower will always lead the leaderless.