By Tre Moore
Throughout my experience at the Wharton School of Business, I learned countless lessons on so much more than just leadership. I left with a better understanding of myself and who I am on the inside, and also gained a new appreciation for the power of connection and reaching out to others to really get to know them beyond who they initially appear to be. A leader is a negotiator, a mentor, and a competitor. But most importantly, a leader is a servant.
I believe leadership is more than just telling others what to do or how to do it. Leadership starts on the inside of each of us. We become leaders when we decide to be the best at what we do; to take every opportunity as another step in the process of perfecting yourself. A commitment to daily excellence is the mentality of a leader, on the football field or in our daily walk of life. Leadership is important because leaders bring the best out of people; pushing people physically and mentally to points past what they themselves had not ventured to do.
Though leadership simply is setting an example for others to follow, that task can be accomplished in many different ways, each as important as the next. It is important to know about different forms leadership takes because different situations call for different approaches. Knowing your audience and how they react to different personalities is just as important as the content of the message that you say. You have to prepare them for your message by approaching in the correct manner. Otherwise, you lose them before you even start. On a high school football team, you deal with different individuals... from guys who have been playing since their early days of youth to guys who may be very limited in their knowledge of the game. Though in some cases you can use the same tone and approach to the different individuals, one individual might respond better to softer encouragement, while with another you can be a bit more direct and assertive. Being a senior quarterback, this lesson is crucial to mentoring younger players on the team effectively.
Off the field, this is just a great social lesson to know. You cannot talk to everyone in the same way. Depending on their relationship with you, you have to alter the tone you use with people and the style in which you present your message.
During my time at the Wharton School of Business, the event that I believe had the greatest impact on me was the open dialogue session with Ms. Terrie Williams. What was special about this session is that it was just a time for us to have real talk about our emotions and/or experiences that we have had trouble dealing with. Nobody really talks about the negative experiences in their lives, but just like the good ones, the bad ones have shaped us into who we are today. I witnessed people open up about some of the most troubling experiences in their lives with an open heart. Even if it wasn’t my experience, we all go through similar things. It was such an emotionally raw experience for me, one that I was not used to. I will never forget that hour because of how it made me relate so much to every story and every experience.
In addition to Ms. Terrie Williams, it was a great experience having Mike Mayock come and speak to us. I watch him just about every day as he covers events around the NFL. He has been involved with NFL quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, to new guys like Johnny Manziel and Russell Wilson. He spoke to us specifically about our media presence; what we say on social media and during interviews. He spoke about making good decisions and always remembering that what you say and what you write are always on the record, despite what may be told to you. But more than that, he talked about work ethic, and what he has seen throughout his interactions with some of the greatest football players ever. The great ones out-work, out-study and out-practice their opponents on a daily basis. Hearing him speak, knowing the wisdom he has through his work with the NFL and through all those he’s talked to and interviewed, what he had to say carried a lot of weight.
But more than anything I heard or any group activity we learned, it was the people I met and the relationships we were able to establish over the span of a few days that really made the whole time special. We were all athletes from many different sports and backgrounds, but what we all had in common was that we all took great pride in excelling in everything we did, on the field and in the classroom, and wanted to not only be the best, but also lead others and help them in their efforts to be the best as well. I met a group of guys whom I have still kept in contact with following the camp, a few of whom will be playing collegiate football with me. From these guys and all the other participants, I learned that to really know someone you have to look past how they look, how they talk, and what they do. You have to look at their heart, which sometimes takes time to see. But if true genuine friendship is what you are searching for, it is not until they put their guard down and remove the mask that we all wear. Then you will truly appreciate who they really are.
Tre's Bio:
Rufus Lee Moore III (Tre) is a 17 year-old high school senior who attends John Burroughs School in St. Louis, Missouri. As a born-again Christian since the age of 7, Tre's faith is very important to him. His parents are Rufus Lee Moore Jr. and Mercia Sain Moore. He is the oldest of three boys.
Tre loves art and is also a gifted artist. Earlier this year, one of his drawings was chosen for an exhibit in the Young Artists' Showcase through the St. Louis Artists' Guild.
Tre is a student-athlete who believes that getting a great education and playing sports are equally important. He grew up playing little league and select sports year-round, including football, baseball, and basketball. He also tried his hand at soccer, golf, and lacrosse. His favorite sport has always been football, in which he's played the quarterback position since the age of seven. One personal achievement Tre accomplished last football season was being voted the first-ever junior captain on the Varsity football team. His goal is to lead the football team back to the state championship this year and bring home a winner.
Earlier this summer, Tre committed to Yale University to play football as a member of the high school graduating class of 2015. He plans to study biology or engineering.