By Muhammad Fateh Nouman, 5 Green
The journey is complete, and the results are in! I’m thrilled to announce that my final essay, which was the ultimate test in Round Three, scored an amazing 94 out of 100! This isn’t just a number—it’s proof that all the focus, preparation, and living by the 7 Habits truly pays off.
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi
The Road to the Finals
This achievement is the culmination of three tough rounds:
- Round 1 Winner: Scored 80% or higher on the 7 Habits Knowledge Quiz.
- Round 2 Winner: Scored 80% or higher on the 7 Habits Scenario Quiz.
- Round 3 (The Final): Submitted the essay and achieved a score of 94/100!
My Winning Essay: Leadership and the 7 Habits
My essay was focused on how I use Habit 3 (Put First Things First) and Habit 4 (Think Win-Win) in my daily life. The judges were impressed, specifically praising my authentic and engaging voice and the clear, inspiring leadership message I delivered. Connecting the Habits to real-life moments made the message hit home.
Getting such high marks on Understanding the 7 Habits and Clarity of Leadership Message makes me incredibly proud.
Leadership is about inspiring and guiding others with confidence, making wise decisions, and collaborating to reach shared goals. Every child holds the potential to become a leader and achieve great things. Leadership is not limited to a few; everyone has the ability to inspire, guide, and make a difference in their own way. As Dr. Stephen R. Covey said ‘Leadership is the highest of the arts, simply because it enables all other arts and professions to work’. Although I appreciate all the habits from ‘The Leader in Me’, the two that work wonders for me are Habit 3 ‘Put First Things First’ and Habit 4 ‘Think Win-Win’. These habits transformed my personality and changed the way I think in my daily life.
I remember our investiture ceremony preparations. I was very excited because I had to host the event. One evening, my cousin invited me to play an online game, but I politely refused. I knew I needed to practice my hosting skills to perform confidently. I chose to focus on my preparation because I knew it’s important. When the big day arrived, everything went perfectly! I hosted the ceremony successfully and received praise from everyone. That moment taught me how powerful it is to put first things first by prioritizing what truly matters. I used to get late for school because I woke up late. Due to this laziness, I often skipped my breakfast, and it started to affect my health. My poor time management was becoming a problem, so I changed my strategy to pack my bag at night, fill my water bottle and set an alarm so I could wake up early. This small decision, inspired by the habit of putting first things first, changed my routine. Now, I get ready for school on time, have my breakfast and feel more energetic. What a beautiful saying of Dr. Stephen R. Covey ‘There are three constants in life change, choice and principles.’
Now coming to the habit of ‘Think Win-Win,’ this habit from ‘The Leader in Me’ is very close to my heart because it brought a wonderful change in my personality and the way I think. When I was promoted to Grade 5, our school held student council elections, and I ran for the position of Sports Captain. I was very passionate about this role because I deeply admire famous football players like Ronaldo and Messi, and I often practiced their skills during sports time. My interview went well. However, when the results were announced, I was surprised and disappointed to learn that Fizza, my fellow candidate, had been chosen instead. At first, I felt upset and tearful, but I quickly reminded myself to stay calm and positive. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and went to congratulate Fizza sincerely on her achievement. In that moment, I felt stronger, more confident, and proud of my maturity. This experience taught me the real meaning of ‘Think Win-Win’ to celebrate other’s success and maintain kindness even in moments of loss. I have noticed this habit made me feel more empowered, encouraged, and at peace with myself.
I truly believe that these habits will keep guiding me to become a better person each day by being helpful, cheerful, a good listener, proactive, and always ready to collaborate with others in a true win-win spirit. I will conclude my essay with a lovely quote of Dr. Stephen R. Covey ‘Are leaders born or made? This is a false dichotomy: leaders are neither born nor made. Leaders choose to be leaders.’
Of course, no journey is perfect—I learned that I need to work on smoother transitions between my examples and check for those pesky minor grammar issues. But learning is part of leadership, and I’ll use this feedback to grow even stronger in the future.
This entire experience, from the grueling early rounds to this final, high-scoring essay, has cemented my belief: leadership isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you choose to be, every single day.
Thank you to everyone who followed my journey! What an unforgettable victory.
