-
Founder and Chairperson of the Chinese Medicine Research Club
-
JC Volunteer Together Service Design Program – Best Potential Award
-
CPCE Excellence Contest – Champion
-
MTR X Solomon Learning Group Train For Life’s Journey 2.0 – 1st Runner-Up for Intergenerational Relationships
-
CEO of JA Company Program Student Company “Relight.”
Even now, three years later, I can picture that morning in my junior year of high school perfectly. Standing in front of the board with the election results, my throat went dry, and I got that nasty, bitter taste in my mouth—the first bite of failure was definitely tougher to swallow than I’d expected.
Back then, I had a pretty simple idea of what a “leader” was: just someone who pulled off big wins and ended up in a top, powerful spot. During the Vice President campaign, I talked a good game about looking out for everyone and earning their trust, but I never truly stopped to figure out what my classmates actually wanted or needed from me. When the results were posted, I was hit with a crushing verdict: “No Confidence.” It was right there on the notice, and it felt like a heavy weight pressing down on my chest. My body wouldn’t move, just frozen in shock; my mind was scrambled entirely, looping the same desperate question: “Why did this happen?”
I was stuck dwelling on that loss for a long time, until I attended the school’s leadership camp. Our teacher gave us a message that really hit home: “How can you lead a whole team without dedication and vision?” That was the moment everything clicked – authentic leadership has always been putting the needs of others first and pushing for meaningful change by consistently giving your all. The tricky part then became: How do I actually start doing this instead of just thinking about it?
Putting what I’ve learnt into practice was definitely a rough road. Whether it was constantly working to understand different viewpoints in team challenges, tackling tricky decisions about strategy and who handles what in business projects, or organising the very first big event for our new club, these tasks were demanding and came with a ton of setbacks. I eventually learnt to appreciate the advice and solid backing I got from friends and mentors, but I also started to take others’ complaints and doubts seriously. They were essential because they forced me into continuous trial-and-error, kept me honest through constant self-reflection, and helped me choose my direction with genuine, earned confidence.
Today, my entire view of what it means to be a “leader” has completely flipped. That old shadow of self-doubt is gone, replaced by a clearer picture of how I can contribute. It pushes me to get up after I fall and keep moving forward with real purpose. I can finally tell that younger, confused version of myself from three years ago that being a leader is not about being the person standing highest up, but about guiding the team and making everyone else stronger.