Muhammad Ali Leadership Qualities

He who is without courage, is without distinction. He who has courage, carries it in spirit, in attitude, and in action. An acquired trait, courage is something that one must possess in order to be themselves, a trait that allows people to face the cruelty of the world with each passing day, and a trait that compels great and monumental figures to hold onto their beliefs while under public scrutiny. The awe-inspiring heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, is one of those great and monumental figures - a man of great talent and grit.
During the 60’s, while he was in the prime of his career and America was in the midst of war with Vietnam, he actively resisted the “patriotic” call to action, refusing to sign up for the draft. Viewing it as an obstruction of justice and a clear violation of his religious beliefs, Ali found it offensive for the American government to ask African American men to
defend a country that constantly oppressed them. Ali felt a personal call to action and quickly became a crusader in the resistance against the Vietnam war and racism in America. Just as quickly as he had been called to action, he had also been shunned. Ali could no longer pursue a formal boxing career in the United States because of what many considered an “unpatriotic” and “un-American” attitude. Nevertheless, he understood the value of his beliefs, knowing they were worth outstandingly more than what his actions had cost him.
Despite what many thought at the time, Muhammad Ali is an American hero - a true fighter inside the ring and out.
It would be impossible to not have respect for a man who held strongly to his beliefs despite being harassed to do otherwise. It took remarkable strength and power for Ali to use his status and career as a platform to unwelcomely share the experience of his black peers with other white Americans. Ali's exemplary actions offer many lessons. One lesson is that, in life, one’s opinion may not always be popular or well liked. Yet, nothing is worth believing in if you don’t stand for it against all odds. Such strong conviction and courage, as was held by Mr. Ali, is something in which I wish to nurture in my coming years. I have, and hope to keep, the courage to be a black woman wanting to enter the world of medicine. Immersing myself in a world dominated by white males takes guts, to put it lightly. Nonetheless, I have passions that I have a right to pursue and, in doing so, have valuable experiences that others could learn from regardless if they can’t identify with
them.
With life comes challenges that call you to action. When I get that call, I hope to have the same degree of courage to both answer, and act. Furthermore, I hope to realize that any immediate costs resulting from my actions will seem futile compared to the benefits that will be reaped by future generations.