Intellectual
Perseverance
Teachers in early elementary classes throughout the nation appoint
leaders every day. To these little ones,
it is an honor to receive the highly esteemed title of line-leader. Students exhibit behaviors of self-control
and compliance to standards in order to be granted the front-running position
as the class walks through the hallways on campus. Even at a young age, the desire to lead is
present. Yet, the intellectual
development necessary to lead is far from maximized.
One of the greatest qualities in a leader is their ability
to think, to question themselves, question those around them, question the
reasoning behind the existing status quo and determine with steadfast resolve decisions
resulting in the greatest potential good.
Many people may take on a role of being a leader, but it is the
individual that is able to maintain such intellectual perseverance that elicits
positive change for generations to come.
History is full of
these leaders that possess an ability to tenaciously tether themselves to their
thoughts after determining that their thought process has resulted in a
heightened level of truth, even when such truth defies the reality of the world
around them. One example is that of Rosa Parks and her
resistance to inequality. Rosa Parks may
never have studied to be a leader. She
may never have taken a single MSLD course.
However, on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks took a stand by remaining
seated. A stand that she knew was the
appropriate action to take despite the consequences she would face and despite
the collective thinking of the times. A
stand that would lead others to a life of opportunity and toward the hope of
equality.
She refused to accept the irrational thinking of society and
acted on the resolution of truth that she was a valued member of the human race
and deserved equality. She knew what the
law was and what rights had been afforded to her through the law. When requested to give up what she knew she
had been entitled to, she defied.
One could assume this was no easy decision for Rosa to make. She assuredly weighed the potential
consequences and rigidly remained even if her thoughts and behaviors would indubitably
result in arrest, if not a worse fate. Today,
Rosa Parks’ is considered to be the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement"
due to her resiliency, rigidity and resolve.
Reflecting on the leadership example set by this historical
hero, how do I measure up in my ability to intellectually overcome societal
pressures despite the potential negative consequences faced? At the risk of sounding overly self-assured,
it is not intellectual perseverance that I lack at this stage of my
development. Years ago, that was not the
case. While I formerly was a woman that
would recoil at the thought of creating ripples or upsetting those around me by
going against the grain, today I am more concerned with keeping my tenacity in
check. Like a headstrong mule, once I
arrive at the point of intellectual resolve, it takes more than an act of
congress to dissuade me.
A good leader is able to maintain a healthy perspective while
persevering in a manner conducive to creating change. Martin Luther King, Jr. new that peaceful
acts of protest were necessary to take small strides toward ending
segregation. Rosa Parks new that while
it would be unlawful for her to sit in the front of the bus, she was not required
by law to give up her seat in the area of the bus she was seated. She picked her battles, and quietly led
others toward a brighter tomorrow.
Through her example, I am able to reign in my intellectual resolve and
know that there is a purpose and plan for such perseverance when executed at
the right moment.
An Act of Courage, The Arrest Records of Rosa Parks. (n.d.).
Retrieved August 17, 2015, from
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/rosa-parks/
Valuable Intellectual Traits. (n.d.). Retrieved August 17,
2015, from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528
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