CLASSROOM REFLECTION

Session One Class Reflection
by Samuel Enemy-Hunter, Lodge Grass, LMT Class of 2019

As I drive to Big Sky from the Crow Indian Reservation to meet my classmates at the first session of Leadership Montana 2019 my excitement and nervousness build, I’ve already drank several cups of extreme coffee, which doesn’t help. I’m paying close attention to the time, right on schedule, I’ll be there in plenty of time to mingle and introduce myself to my new class. I’m enjoying the scenery of the mountains and river along Highway 191 when all of a sudden the morning traffic starts to slow down, WAY DOWN… what on earth is going on here? I look at the clock, okay, everything will be fine, less mingling when I get to the resort. Then, traffic comes to a complete stop. I’ve been in this situation before when a tourist sees an animal in the wilderness and stops in the middle of the road to take pictures, of all days for this to happen. I take a deep breath, put my Hummer into 4-wheel drive and start driving over the cars in front of me like a Monster Trucks show! No, not really, I drive a Ford Focus, but I do take a deep breath, many deep breaths and just pray for the traffic to start moving. It does but I’m going to be late on the first day.

When I pull into the parking lot of the Summit Hotel I feel that I’m in the wrong place. I go inside and convinced I’m in the wrong place. But no, I see the signs pointing to the Leadership Montana conference room. I wipe the sweat off my face, adjust my clothes and quietly walk in hoping nobody notices me. The last person has introduced themselves and now it’s my turn. The entire room is now looking at me as I get to my table. I quickly tell everyone who I am and sit down. During our first break I’m ready to bolt but my new classmates start coming over and telling me about themselves. The entire first session at Big Sky went above and beyond all my expectations. I’m excited to see what the year brings and how we will grow as a class, as friends and as Leaders. I came into it thinking that I’m in the wrong place BUT leaving knowing that I’m in the right place.