9781422277874

Chapter One WHAT IS INITIATIVE, GRIT & PERSEVERANCE?

A re people born leaders or can they develop great leadership skills? We believe leadership skills can be learned. In fact, they may even be contagious. John Maxwell said, “Leaders become great not because of their power but because of their ability to empower others.” The Rosewood Academy drama club planned to host their annual school play as usual. This year, however, the success of the production took on a more personal nature. Two weeks before opening night, an out-of-control kitchen fire led to the drama club director being hospitalized with severe burns. To make matters worse, his family home was completely destroyed. Under the circumstances, the local community would have understood the club

passing on this year’s production, Into the Woods . They were of short a director, and the mood of the cast and crew was somber. Eighth grader and member of the Rosewood drama club, Jared Klein, refused to let the play fall through, however. He begged his older sister, a college theater major, to step into the role of director. Jared’s frantic act to save the school play inspired another classmate to organize the printing of special Into the Woods t-shirts. In the end, the opening night was a major success. Plus, the t-shirts were a hit with the students and parents. The proceeds from the t-shirt sales, along with a good

portion of the money raised from admission fees, were presented to the recovering director and his family. All in all, one student’s resourceful thinking spread like wildfire, allowing the drama club at Rosewood Academy to host their annual play and raise money for a worthy cause.

With some quick thinking, a teen managed to save a drama club’s play.