I laughed to myself.
Becoming intentional about leadership? That’s some fancy Path to Manhood talk that’s just outright fake.
But freshman me kept listening to the conversation anyway. It was the only conversation going on at the team dinner after all.
Evan was the main one talking. Mostly about how he took the time to sit down and reflect about what actions he could take to best lead the rowing team as captain.
But I didn’t believe it. Yeah, you can do all the Leadership Loops and reflection you want. But, at the end of the day, leadership is a term people like to throw around and can’t really act on.
Right?
I want you all to get in their heads.
Evan was talking to us from the launch as we pushed off the dock for practice a few weeks before Rowing Nationals.
Get in their heads on the warmup. Warm up like a Nats-winning quad.
We started with our usual arms-only warmup.
Intentionality. Sharpen those catches.
But just as soon as we were about to move on from arms-only, Evan stopped us.
We’re staying here until we get it down right. Be intentional.
What we would’ve made a minute-long warmup—Evan made it into what felt like an hour-long warmup.
I want V-Splash. Show me V-Splash.
By the end of that lap though, our blades were sharp.
Our timing was together.
The boat run was smooth.
We were intentional.
That intentionality I’ve gained could’ve only come from being at a place like St. Mark’s.
A place where the culture of programs like rowing expect your best and a serious purpose behind everything—even on something as simple as a warm-up.
It’s one of my most invaluable skills. Because—instead of floating down the lazy river of high school—intentionality allows me to swim against the current and choose the direction I want myself and my community to move in.
It allows me to make sure I create progress instead of hoping that it’ll drop from the sky.
So when I’m confused in math class or math team—my reaction is not to hope for it all to magically make sense. I get out a few sheets of scratch paper and spend time challenging myself to understand it fully.
So when I see that nasty, mushy package of saltine crackers lying in a puddle—I pick it up. I don’t talk about making the community better but I act on what I can control.
So when I became captain of the rowing team—I was already leading intentionally. And through that intentionality—the role didn’t raise me. I’m raising the role to a higher standard.
St. Mark’s—you’ve led me down the Path to Manhood. You’ve taught me the importance of reflection. You’ve taught me to live and lead with intention.
I’m not laughing anymore.
