I was sad when I had cell reception again, but more than anything, I was sad when my WiFi didn't cut out every minute to the point where even trying to go on social media had no purpose.
Every year, my Student Council attends the Georgia Association of Student Councils (GASC) State Leadership Convention held at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. The main purpose of this convention, other than to cheer so loudly you lose your voice, is to get to know other students that are in Student Council from other schools across the state. This past convention was my second year attending, and for some reason, this year stood out to me far more than last year's.
At Rock Eagle, the WiFi is extremely limited, so having a stable connection for longer than a few minutes is quite rare. When you have things you need WiFi for (like Snapchat streaks to keep up with), this becomes a bit frustrating. Only after thinking about it for an extensive time did I realize that streaks take lots of effort, time and unnecessary stress. At one point during my weekend at camp, I thought I'd lost all my streaks because my snaps were not sending, and I was so happy.
A sense of relief seemed to rush over me because I thought, "Wow, I don't have to worry about sending streaks out anymore." I actually didn't end up losing my streaks unintentionally like I thought I did, but I can proudly say that the Monday following my weekend at GASC, I ended all of my streaks on Snapchat to focus more on real relationships, school and hobbies. Now that I'm no longer tied down to snapping people who send me black screens, I have never been happier having actual conversations with those I actually talk to.
At GASC, you seem to be surrounded in a profusion of like-minded people. Everyone at the conference is a leader who wants to help not only improve him or herself, but everyone around the person as well. With this in mind, Student Council has showed me that success comes with teamwork. With some of the other clubs and extra activities I'm involved in, I've noticed a sense of detachment. I can't say how disappointing it is to me when people hide helpful information from their friends or peers because they have the mindset that someone will succeed over them.
Wanting to succeed together is far more valuable than seeking validation in being more successful than someone else.
At this convention, you'll find that you can go to anyone and everyone for help. Despite not even knowing each other, you're there for one another. The constant support and encouragement is so unreal to the point where you start to believe in magic. My focus has been reshaped around this intensely. Being a leader doesn't mean you're the best, and it doesn't mean you're greater than anyone else. Being a leader is being encouraging and wanting to help others to become the best with you. Being a leader is putting yourself on the same level as others to help them see themselves in you.
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It's false to say that being a leader is the same as being better than others.
Part of being a leader is not only helping people you don't know, but having the willingness to meet new people and get to know them. My advisors always told our Student Council members to sit with students from other schools during meals in the dining hall. Sometimes, it was hard to pry ourselves away from our friends because we wanted to hang out with and talk to the people we know, but getting to know students from other schools was so refreshing. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know new people, so I viewed this as constructive.
Through sitting with people we didn't know, my friends and I were able to meet some really nice and funny people (some were very pleasant on the eyes). This taught me to fixate myself around the idea of breaking out of my shell a little more when I'm given the opportunity, and making connections is always a wonderful occasion. There's a prodigious sense of joy that comes along with clicking with someone you've just met.
All in all, GASC taught me to focus on my real friendships and to be open myself more than ever in terms of meeting new people. Not having stable WiFi was an experience that made me appreciate the people around me more and grasp a better understanding of my personal goals. It's certainly true that getting jaw pain from smiling and laughing too much with your friends and new people you meet is exceedingly better than your eyes burning from staring at a phone screen for too long.