Pop of Color

Author's Note: As I attended WASC Leadership Camp (level 2) this year, I was voted ambassador for our council (group.) Basically, that means that you are the representative for your group and have to write a speech in 24 hours. All of the ambassadors got together and picked a theme for our essays--music. The tricky part of this project though was that the theme for leadership camp was "Colors of Leadership," so our essay not only had to relate to music, but also had to tie into color. All-in-all, if this essay seems like some pieces don't fit.... well, they probably don't! In this piece, I also tried playing with the basic formatting of an essay. I hope you enjoy!

Imagine your favorite pop song. Play it through your mind… run it through your head; take note of what you see, hear, smell, connect to.

Now think about how many different parts there are to that song. Verses, choruses, bridges—all very similar to leaders.

Every leader has a song in them.

Every leader has a “pop” of color.

Verses in a person can symbolize many things. Seeing as verses change throughout the song, verses represent improvement as a leader. A leader’s verses are constantly changing, and their leadership skills, growing.

Verses can also show a path through leadership as the chorus is followed by the verse.

In my opinion, the chorus is the part of the song resembling the most leadership. Leadership you can rely on, and just like a chorus, it will always come back.

Also, songs tend to be known for their choruses and leaders are known for their organization, or responsibility, or enthusiasm, but above all, their leadership.

Another common part of the average pop song is a bridge. How this is connected to leaders is pretty self-explanatory, but all-in-all, leaders are (hopefully…) able to build a bridge between people, whether it is to repair a negative relationship, or enhance a positive one.

True leaders can see beyond sterotypes, true leaders can be themselves freely, true leaders can break boundaries and build confidence. True leaders can be all of you—just waiting to happen.

White…

A color of purity, innocence, hope, and beauty.

Symbolically, every leader is made of white. White is a part of every color—it makes them who they are. White is also used in art to create softer shades of colors. A fiery red combined with white can create a gentle rouge, or a cheeky pink. Depending on how much white each leader uses on their canvas, a beautiful painting can be made.

Just like all of these part of pop songs combined, the qualities of leaders can create one awesome song. I encourage all of you today to find your song. I encourage all of you today to help others find their song. I encourage you today to enhance your “pop” of color. I encourage all of you today to help others find their color.

And don’t be afraid to make that song truly beautiful with a bridge.

Don’t be afraid to be a leader.