Mostert Christian Leaders Scholarship 2017-2018

1. What was your goal as a leader of your class/school/club? What

were you able to accomplish? What are you most proud of?
During the 2016-2017 Season, I had the honor of being selected as the
Team Captain of the El Dorado Lady Cougars Basketball team.
I quickly discovered this honor came with some big responsibilities. One of
the objectives I had to quickly accomplish as Captain was the ability to
learn how to read my teammates and assess the broader situation.
Thankfully, as the youngest of six children, I had a lot of experience with
assessing moods and personalities! My siblings each have very different
and distinctive personalities. As the youngest I have watched my siblings
deal with their struggles and in particular my 32 year old brothers struggle
with brain cancer. This experience growing up in a large and boisterous
family came in very handy as Team Captain and I found the leadership role
was kind of a natural progression for me. For example, in a huddle at the
game, I heard our players frustration being unleashed destructively on
each other. I knew as Captain, I had to attempt to turn this around. As Paul
1 Corinthians 12 reminds me, we are one body with many parts all working
together to help each other be our best. As I reflected on this scripture, I
found clarity and strength and was able to turn the squabbling into a
weapon to defeat the opposition. I did this by reminding individuals of their
talents and redirecting their disappointment in how things were going
towards focusing on a strategy to win. I felt proud when our team united
and overcame their insecurities. It was even more exciting when I saw
results that were reflected on the scoreboard.
This experience helped me realize that providing a little motivation can
seed heroic behavior. I delighted in the small part that I played in changing
the outcome of a game and more importantly, the group dynamics of our
team. This is one of my most proud accomplishments.
2. Describe how you have made an impact on an individual or group
spiritually?
During my high school years I was part of the leadership class for all four
years. I had an amazing Leadership teacher named Mr. Potter who taught
leadership through service learning. At a public high school it was not as
easy to openly express my faith in leadership roles, however, I passionately
believed that I could help bring the gospel alive in everyday encounters and
leadership experiences. Our emphasis on leadership through service
learning allowed me to live out Christs commandments to serve those less
fortunate.
I started seeking opportunities that would allow me to help other people
realize their inner worth and empower them as Mr. Potter had
demonstrated. A perfect opportunity to connect kids to school and improve
our school culture and climate presented itself in an event Dancing with
Royalty. The participants were a group of Special Education kids from our
school with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. Many were
non-verbal, some were confined to wheelchairs because of cerebral palsy.
Some of them were emotionally disturbed or had Downs syndrome.
Our Leadership Group decided to put on a prom night just for them. A
night where they can feel special and included-- just like other kids. It also
provided their parents an opportunity to experience things that they never
imagined possible for their child. Working with this group of students was a
very eye-opening experience for me because I have never been exposed
to people my age with these severe disabilities. I must admit to being
uncomfortable and intimidated. I was out of my comfort zone!
My function at the event was to interact with the kids, and encourage and
console them if needed. I had hoped to give them a glimpse of the
goodness in the world; but what was revealed to me was the goodness in
them. They didnt judge each other about how they looked or what they
wore. Their elated faces and tears of joy despite their handicaps, struck
me with awe. It made me think about the blessings of health that I have
been graced with.
Whatever wisdom I had hoped to convey to them was over shadowed by
the spiritual impact they had on me. Doing Gods work is part of everyday
life. Mostly, what I took away from this experience is how much more
enriched we are by givingwe end up receiving spiritual gifts that far
outweigh what we gave.
3. How do you plan to share your talents with the campus community
while you are a student at PUC?
Going forward, I absolutely intend to share the things I have learned with
the people I meet.
My number one basketball fan--my daddy-- passed away this year on
September 14, 2016 from a much unexpected heart attack. I was blown
away when I witnessed a very caring and giving community pull together to
surround our family with support and love. From meals being delivered
daily on our doorstep to boy scouts stacking wood outside our snowbound
house which is heated only by a wood stove. Friends and parents were
even showing up at my basketball games to support me.
This forced me to ask myself some serious questions about who I am and
what my purpose in life is. After all, even without my father, life moves on
and so must I. We have to overcome the setbacks in life by accepting them
as they arise; and letting go of our disappointments. At first, I thought to
myself, why should I play basketball anymore? I soon realized that God has
a purpose for all of us; if we would only trust in him, thank him every day for
what we do have, and do our best to help other people along the way. My
father believed the same.
Through the death of my father, I have learned that life becomes a little
easier for all of us during difficult times, when we can support each other.
Support can be a listening ear, encouragement, or even just a kind word
and a smile. Ive learned that helping people feel connected is very
important. Ive learned that whether life hands me a bad day on the court
or a devastating blow to my health, I must go on. This means carrying on
with the God-given gifts that I have and the hardships that may come my
way.
My plan is to be the same person in public that I strive to be in my private
and spiritual life. I need to not be afraid to recognize and admit when I fail
or fall short. I want to be a leader and not a follower, on the basketball court
as well as on the PUC campus. I hope to console others in their time of
need by using the knowledge that I have learned from my experiences.
Thank You, Molly Hargon