THE LEADERBOARD! by Sharahn Green Santana

sharahngreensantana — 2025-08-17 17:26:46 UTC

Prompt:

Identify 3–5 moments in your life that shaped how you see yourself as a leader (or potential leader).
- These could include moments of:
  - Taking initiative
  - Facing a challenge
  - Learning from a mentor
  - Making a tough decision
For each moment, write:
- What happened?
- How did it shape your thinking about leadership?
EACH MOMENT SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PICTURE, IMAGE, AND TEXT.

Learning from a mentor

2025-08-19 22:04:30 UTC

Meeting and working under Johnny Rock as an apprentice was amazing. He showed me what it's like to be a leader out in the field.

Taking initiative

2025-08-19 22:06:04 UTC

Working with youth in the area for a non profit organization to teach kids sports/life lessons through various activities.

Prompt

2025-08-19 22:07:39 UTC

I prayed for years about having an opportunity to become a carpenter. That opportunity came at the end of 2020 in a pre-apprenticeship program. The schedule for the classes conflicted with my congregation meetings. Therefore, I had a choice to concede with the schedule or to respectfully decline it. I declined it because nothing comes before God and worship with me. Surprisingly, I ended up in the program with an adjusted schedule that worked. Now I am a carpenter. This showed me as a leader you must courage to stick to your values.

Making a tough decision

2025-08-19 22:09:04 UTC

leaving the carpenter union for a different/new blue collar job then moving on from tools altogether in my company and going into leadership. (first day in the new role)

Mental health is important

2025-08-19 22:11:14 UTC

Traumatic events

Life-changing drastically

Depression, anxiety, and ADHD are taking over

Struggling with basic things in life like work, school, and parenthood.

seek support.

Shaped my perspective: mental health matters. People need to be looked at, supported, and cared for as a whole person, not just a task.

LEADERSHIP

2025-08-19 22:12:09 UTC

I believe that becoming a shift manager as a nurse in a nursing home setting started my leadership journey because it was when I first learned how to run a shift and also is when I learned to hold myself accountable for making sure that the caregivers were doing what needed to be done. I also learned that just because I became a leader it didn't mean that I should get my hands dirty.

Prompt 2

2025-08-19 22:16:23 UTC

Back in 2016, I was going through a horrible time in my life. My family wasn't supporting me over decisions I made in my personal life. I was going through health issues, financial hardships, and trying to find peace in my life and marriage. My bible teachers just sat me down, listened to me, and gave me love at time when I really needed it most. They told me God is always working behind the scenes and to just be patient. I applied the direction and eventually things got better. From a leadership perspective, I learned that when you go through really challenging issues in life, to pray, have faith, and to be patient. In time, things will work out. It taught me endurance.

Facing a challenge

2025-08-19 22:16:38 UTC

Coming to terms with mental health challenges, a new reality, and having to make hard decisions to walk away from certain things to prioritize my mental and emotional well-being.

Shaped Perspective: MH affects everyone differently.

Taking initiative the Jay way

2025-08-19 22:18:40 UTC

My students had no idea what a vision board was and what it meant to manifest the things you want. I decided to organize a vision board party for my students and have now done so for 3 years.

I had to create a proposal, create logistics and find supplies. It was a simple thing to organize so I thought but leading this event was quite a challenge. It allowed me to think outside the box, see that while leading sometimes you have to pivot and a lot some people may not see the vision until it comes together.

sharahngreensantana — 2025-08-19 22:20:25 UTC

Being a mother...again!

Taking the initiative to care for me.

2025-08-19 22:20:35 UTC

Turning to the church

Building Resilience

Getting connected to support

appetite issues/fighting back

Practicing boundaries and self-care

Rediscovering myself.

Shaped Perspective: There needs to be balance. It's okay to be selfish. You cant pour from an empty cup. To show up well for yourself and those around you, you have to water you first.

school

2025-08-19 22:21:06 UTC

this was a defining moment to put me first

Graduation Keynote

sharahngreensantana — 2025-08-19 22:22:06 UTC

Being asked to speak at my former school's graduation ceremony.

Prompt 3

2025-08-19 22:22:45 UTC

When my wife was in the hospital having our daughter, she was in labor for 61 hours and lost a liter of blood. I was there from beginning to end. When my daughter finally came out, I was there when she opened her eyes - the moment was so beautiful. After so much struggle, a gift so beautiful was here. It just helped me to see in life sometimes to experience a beautiful accomplishment, sometimes you just have to struggle. You may struggle from beginning to end, but in the end, what you gain is priceless.

Education

sharahngreensantana — 2025-08-19 22:23:03 UTC

Education has shaped my perspective as a leader.

womanhood

2025-08-19 22:23:28 UTC

reclaiming myself

my life was put to the test when I had to raise my self and my sisters my mom left us it was very hard I made it happening growing up fast is hard but god had my back I was always a leader and make sure my sisters was good cooking,cleaning ,and taking them to school

akiathomas — 2025-08-19 22:26:03 UTC

Teacher's assistant to Family and community liaison

2025-08-19 22:27:11 UTC

As a teacher's assistant I the teacher telling me what to do and I would follow her lesson plan, and I did not like it, after 3 years I decided that I wanted A more of a admin position so I put in an application for a family and community engagement liaison. In school year 24-25 I was responsible for SAC and Title 1 meetings and also making sure that all my 11 schools had the resources that they needed for the families. I also facilitated workshops.

2025-08-19 22:27:30 UTC

Becoming a mother forced me to become a leader.

Mentor Madness

2025-08-19 22:27:39 UTC

My mentor during high school was Helen Rowe, if it was for her I don’t think I’d be who I am today. She was honest, consistent, motivational and kind. She taught with her heart and showed us we could do things differently no matter what we were raised to believe.

This helped shape my way of thinking as a leader because you can show empathy, be transparent and still get great outcomes.

motherhood my way

2025-08-19 22:27:48 UTC

Giving my best version

2025-08-19 22:27:52 UTC

Becoming a caregiver for my aging parents forced me into the role of a leader.

2025-08-19 22:28:18 UTC

My role as a leader has come with new and difficult challenges. I now have to listen to what their current needs are. Along with having a different level of understanding. It would be meeting them where they are and not getting upset when they make their own decisions.

Gentle and single parenting--breaking the cycle.

2025-08-19 22:30:19 UTC

Navigating life with my daughter

2025-08-19 22:31:31 UTC

2025-08-19 22:31:42 UTC

2025-08-19 22:31:48 UTC

Me Taking Initiative

At my job, I stepped up when no one else did, organizing a group project.

This moment taught me that leadership isn't about titles, it's about action and responsibility.

Failure That Taught Me Resilience and Patience

A time I led a surprise party that didn't go as planned for my brother.

I believe I was a True leader after that. Under so much pressure, I responded to the setback. This has helped me develop humility, reflection, and patience

Empowering Others

I coached someone into going in the right direction instead of snapping out at one of their lowest moments.

This moment was about elevating others, not just achieving personal success. It shifted how I defined my own leadership style.

Decisions Decisions

2025-08-19 22:32:53 UTC

Having to prioritize work task, people’s needs and deadlines. I’ve had to make decisions some may not agree with. I’ve had to micro manage despite hating to do so. I’ve had to learn that sometimes you won’t be the favored leader.

This is changed my thinking of leadership because again you may not always be favored but if you prioritize the vision and mission you heart will guide you to the correct place and surround you with people who do the same.

I learning about nursing from my cousin, she was a beautiful mentor, she always helped me prepare for the field, different things like using the Hoyer lift. I thank her for everything

akiathomas — 2025-08-19 22:33:31 UTC

the toughest decision I make in my life is leaving my family alone so I can better my life for me and my kids and live for Akia but it was the best because I always jump for them and put my life on hold now I am living it up

akiathomas — 2025-08-19 22:39:19 UTC

Professional Rim of Things

2025-08-19 22:40:02 UTC

Creating budgets

Serving on Board

Creating narratives

Reaching out to different departments

Speaking with Major donors

Attending info sessions

Responsible for my own schedule and finding PD.

Getting approved for a 6-figure grant to infuse mental health and wellness across the organization.