Note: Don't read too much into this.

Perhaps, you were right.

Since the day I stepped into the cellgroup,
Very unfortunately, I never really had a proper leader guiding me and teaching me.
Unlike many of you, I wasn't given that privilege.
Never once.

Very often, I ask myself why are the people around me all running before me.
I was envious why they could have a leader to groom them but I was never given the chance.
They just left me to my own. I was kind of fending for myself in one way or another.
When I have problems, I either run to my parents or Elise.
Yet I took everything into my stride, I didn't fight for that cause.
I lied to myself that they must have had a certain vote of confidence in me that I will do it fine on my own.

I hated everybody back then, especially when my closer ones left for another cellgroup.
Adding on to it, everybody was from Springfield.
I had no idea how to build a relationship with them.
I was from a different background.

But thank God, I managed to overcome everything.
Even without a leader over me, I believed I could do it on my own.
What's a leader to me, I thought. Like me, they are imperfect human beings.
Thoughts of backsliding did overwhelm my frame many times. But I hung on.

Up till today, I can never tell a story how a leader changed my life.
Even when Elise told me hers, I can't seem understand.
I kept questioning her, I told her leaders were mere leaders.
How much can they do?
She sounded silly to me.

I was hurt many times in the midst of this tedious journey.
But something kept me going.
I toiled on without respite.

Looking back, I'm glad I came this far.
It wasn't easy, but I've pulled through.
Now, I can proudly say- this is me.

I may not be able to tell a story about how a leader changed my life,
But I can narrate to you for 3 days 3 nights,
how my best friend changed my life.