Leadership is a constant theme and emphasis at CMC. In fact, one of the ways we describe CMC students is "Leaders in the Making." Identify and discuss a person, fictional or nonfictional, who has helped shape culture and thought. You may select someone from any field: literature, the arts, science, politics, history, athletics, business, education, etc.
Please help me. Be honest, is it incoherent, french, convoluted. I just brain spilled because I have been having major writer's block with this essay.
Being a good leader isn't about how much you accomplish, but what you accomplish.
As I talked to my friend about this essay prompt and my preliminary idea on who to write about, her face lit up.
"Reverend Williams? I love him!"
She continued to talk about her experience at Glide Memorial Church, and how touched she had been by his sermon. Both my friend and I are Jewish, yet this incredible Christian minister made a positive impact on both of our lives. Even though I am not a religious person, I love the morals that my culture instills in its people. They are the same morals that Reverend Williams spreads to his community - - and beyond. Rev. Williams preaches that it doesn't matter what label you or anyone else places on you - - black, gay, infected, poor - - you're worth being accepted and loved.
Epitomizing the saying "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," by the American philosopher, George Santayana, Reverend Cecil William's philosophy sprouted from what he had learned from his past. Born in 1929 in Texas, Williams grew up in the segregated south. The dichotomy of his mother telling him he was going to be someone, and society treating him like dirt, was too much for him. After suffering depression, he had a dream that changed his outlook on life forever. He vowed never to accept someone else's definition or judgment of him. Nicknamed Rev as a young boy, Cecil Williams knew he was meant to be a leader, to spread love and joy.
After seminary, Reverend Williams came to Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in 1963, when it was a small, white, affluent community. At the time, the conservative congregation didn't share his vision of inclusiveness, and many left. This didn't stop him. Williams opened his doors to anyone who wanted to be there. As a leader, he was determined to lead anyone who needed or wanted a leader. Discrimination was thrown out the window. Throughout his years at Glide Church, Reverend Williams has made an effort to support every single congregant. Glide has always stood at the forefront of any civil or human rights issue to hit San Francisco.
Reverend Williams, as an exceptional leader, was and is always available to those who need him. When the Vietnam War raged, Glide Church focused itself on the anti-war movement. Later, when the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped Randolph Hearst's daughter in 1974, Glide Church tried to negotiate with the guerilla group to get her back. Though negotiations failed, Reverend Williams was a true leader and was there where he was needed. Leaders are judged by how the choices they make; whether they succeed or fail is less important. In 1979, after the assassination of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, Reverend Cecil Williams opened his doors to anyone in need of support and healing. During the crack epidemic in the mid-1980s, even though his own children were claimed briefly by the drug, instead of asking for harsher punishment and crackdowns on law violators, Williams led marches. He asked for speakers to share their stories about their struggles with the drug. He wanted to transform the people, not punish them. Reverend Williams didn't care about the praise he received, he cared that the people who looked up to him were on the right path; the path of being a good person, someone who respects and loves himself or herself. More recently, with the fight against AIDS and HIV, Glide Church was the first church to offer free testing after Sunday services. Today, Glide feeds approximately 3,500 poor people per day. Glide offers computer-training programs for adults; HIV, AIDS, and substance abuser support groups; and many other programs to benefit the community. No one is beyond the help or support of Glide and Cecil Williams.
Being Jewish, my favorite anecdote about this incredible man is that he removed the cross in Glide's sanctuary in 1967. He removed it saying that Glide's congregation was going to celebrate life and love. Each congregant was to be his own cross; responsible for his own actions. None of Glide's core values, outlined by Williams, mention G-d, Jesus or religion of any sort. Glide is dedicated to radical inclusiveness, breaking down barriers, sharing personal journeys and stories, and celebrating life.
The age required by the world United Methodist Church for its pastors to retire is seventy. Reverend Cecil Williams turned seventy in 1999, and he retired as pastor, but he remains at Glide as "Minister of Liberation." Cecil Williams is incredibly dedicated, loving and accepting. At every hardship San Francisco has faced, Reverend Williams has been at the forefront of helping. He has influenced positively every person who has had the good fortune of being in his presence.
Leave links to your essay, I will return the favor!
I liked it! Well written.
Now. err. How should I say this?
The usual critique is that you need MORE examples; however, in your body paragraphs, I think you can CUT down several of the examples about leadership, especially because the length, at first, seems, intimidating.
That way, redundancy isn't an issue.
