Until this year, connecting with others had never been a priority of mine when leading groups. I am often confrontational, and I have a just get it done quickly mentality. However, as I worked through our junior project this year I got to connect to my peers in ways I never expected. Our project hit so many snares that I thought it might not actually be a failure. However, the people I worked with never gave up and showcased a variety of skills that were both surprising and inspirational. I had to wait until times were tough to finally get to know my peers, and that is a real shame. I am fortunate to now have such a great relationship with everyone in my ELA class. Now understanding the importance of connecting with others, I can see that most any group of leaders and hard workers can accomplish some good work. However, only a strong, connected team can accomplish great work which really makes a difference in others' lives. Leaders have to be vulnerable with each other if they are going to be able to get through the times when they are most vulnerable as a team.