Becoming a Mentor and Discovering New Strength by Addison

Becoming a Mentor and Discovering New Strength by Addison - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

I used to believe that leadership meant being the best at something; being the top scorer, the fastest runner, or the person who always had the right answer. For most of my time playing basketball, I measured my value by my own performance. If I played well, the practice felt successful; if I made a mistake, I would carry it for days. That mindset changed during my junior year, when our team welcomed a group of younger players and I became a captain. Watching them struggle with drills I knew by heart made me realize that leadership wasn’t always about being the star. It could also be about being a guide.

One of my teammates was falling behind on a defensive drill. I started to realize my teammate was getting frustrated. Instead of continuing on with the drill at my own pace, I stopped and helped her instead. I showed her how to properly do the drill, and gave some words of encouragement. Being able to see her get her confidence back, and continued onto the next drill made me feel accomplished. This small interaction made me realize that it’s more than just my own stats and performance. I found myself always checking in on the younger players, explaining stretches, demonstrating technique, and offering encouragement when they made mistakes.

At first, I did these things without thinking too deeply about them. But over time, I realized I was developing a strength that I hadn’t valued before. I became someone the younger players naturally gravitated towards. They asked me questions, trusted my advice, and even copied my warm-up routine. Instead of feeling pressured by that attention, I felt motivated to live up to it. I learned to be patient, to listen before offering solutions, and to balance correction with encouragement skills that don’t come from winning games, but from caring about people.

This shift in mindset influenced my growth far beyond the basketball court. In school, I found myself helping freshmen who struggled with organization or class transitions. I discovered that empathy is not just about feeling for others, but actively supporting them. Responsibility became less of a chore and more of a choice; something I willingly embraced because I understood the positive impact it could have.

Looking back, becoming a mentor changed my definition of leadership completely. I stopped seeing leadership as a spotlight and started seeing it as a bridge; one that connects people and makes them stronger together. By helping my younger teammates, I built skills that pushed me to grow up, communicate better, and contribute to a sense of community. That sense of connection is something I will carry with me into future teams, classrooms, and eventually into my career. The strength I gained from mentoring has shaped the kind of person I want to continue becoming. Someone who leads not by standing in front, but by standing with others.