Can you create a natural authentic personal essay from the interviewee’s point of view that aims to create an output that makes it seem like the interviewee is talking without the need for questions being asked. Thus in the output, there should be no questions being asked. The personal essay will have subject being talked about that seamlessly lead on to each other. This is the text: Can you tell me about a time when you took on a leadership role or demonstrated leadership qualities?

There was a time I took on the role of a leader in a science fair project. Everyone else in my class were already doing their own thing with their own team for each subject, and chemistry was the only subject left, so my team took that on. I eventually formed my team with the people i were familiar with and was quite okay with us 4 members. I took on the role of well, the entire thing. Like finding what topic we were doing. At first, we thought of doing something at a lower level like testing for adulterated foods but I decided to not do it since it was too simple and not appropriate for our level as AS level Cambridge students. So I researched and eventually came to a topic I liked and has a good and lengthy scientific explanation and lots of uses. This was freezing point depression, and its uses. Although the demonstration was simple with a cup, ice, salt, water and a thermometer. I demonstrated that water can be prevented from being frozen and that it can be helpful where ice formed would be dangerous. I thought, at the time, that it was suitable enough to be almost intriguing. I, with my teammate, also went to collect and reserve science apparatuses and materials needed. Although we only really needed a cup, beaker and salt. I provided the ice insulator, and wrote an explanation to explain the principles and uses to be later printed on a large poster. During the fair we took turns presenting. So basically I came up with the idea and followed through with it.

How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships within a team or group?

I would want to familiarize with them and get to know them first before starting any work. I would be direct and logical in asking and saying what we need to do from the start by first outlining the general idea of what we’re going to do. I would try to be fair and let them know that we need to be responsible. I guess i’d have to also ask if they can do what i asked and then assign them what they can handle

Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision or navigate a complex problem. How did you handle it?

When I needed to decide whether continuing or stopping the project to be ready for a certain day is okay or not. That was challenging. Depending on the readiness and preparedness and mainly the allotted time, i’d want to take up most of my peer’s work, as i think that the outcome would be much more reliable if i did everything myself and not rely on others to finish without my review or inspection of it due to the time left. In this way i think in a way that i want everything to be okay by or fit my standards and produce a consistent outcome i am satisfied with. No one to blame if it’s me right? But I know this is wrong in a way and I need help, but it’s hard to know someone who knows my standards.

In what ways do you actively seek personal and professional growth? How does this contribute to your leadership development?

Through each project, I learn to be more concise with my points and do what needs to be done in the simplest and best way of saying or doing things. I trim out what wasn’t necessary to do or say and create an outcome that is simple, direct, straight to the point but is also able to explain and be understood logically and clearly when seen at first glance.

Can you share an example of a time when you successfully motivated and inspired others to achieve a common goal?

I’d say i'm not a great motivator, as i think of life and the situation me and the other teammates are in, already decided to do a job and only think of what to do from now on. During tasks, I’d say I’d motivate others to do their job for the sake of completing the job quickly so we can get it over with and then invite them to play games later as i’m still a teenager

How do you handle conflicts or disagreements within a team? Can you provide an example of a situation where you effectively resolved such a conflict?

In the case of conflict arising from differing ideas on how to proceed, I’d seriously consider each of them and discuss the pros and cons one by one for each idea with the team and list them down so we can come back to it later. After listing out the for and against for each idea, we then again decide what is more appropriate on the feasibility of the idea. As long as it can be done, we can do it, however far-fetched, if we can do it, we can. Although making compromises, we’ll just have to deal with it and make the best with what we’ve got and will get. I’d also decide on the most fun idea and also based on how proud and acknowledged by others we’ll be for that idea

How do you approach setting goals and priorities, both for yourself and for a team or project?

I’d say it is heavily dependent on the timeframe and estimated time needed to complete it, basically how much free time we get. If we have a lot of free time, then it isn’t of much concern to do it immediately, but to do all of it at the start or do it all near the end is a different question. What affects our priorities are the free time the team gets from the project.

Can you describe a time when you had to step outside of your comfort zone to take on a new challenge or responsibility? How did you adapt and grow from that experience?

Although i am used to talking to others in real time, as i have all the time i can have to explain. I'm not comfortable with explaining as I'm being recorded on the spot and having to explain. I’d want to be good enough for the camera and me taking too long, i worry about that. I also worry about how i would appear or seem to others when viewed by many all at once. Note, this is different from explaining real time. The video producers wouldn't want me to take up much of their time. When the time came for me to explain, i just thought to explain it in a way sequentially and logically using references to common real life things to be more understanding to people viewing. I tried to not look at the camera all the time and focus on my words instead. In other words, i tried to be more relevant and say no more than i needed to. This made me learn that i had to be good enough to not be conscious of being on camera and that way i can be more natural.

How do you communicate and articulate your vision or ideas to others? Can you provide an example of a time when your communication skills were instrumental in achieving a desired outcome?

I’d first let them imagine a scenario and a problem. Then I'd explain my way of approach and the reasoning of my decisions, step by step in a comprehensible way. Then i’d lead them to a conclusion I made. In this way, they can then know why and how i came to that decision or idea

How do you handle feedback and criticism? Can you share an example of a time when you effectively incorporated feedback to improve your own performance or the outcome of a project?

On the day of presentation, i’d say what's done is done and no more time to fix it, but i’d accept them before countering with my opinions on why i think it was in the way it is from their feedback, and explain to them that if it was intentional, it was because of a certain reason or requirement, and that it was for the better. If however, the feedback was meant to improve my later next work, I'd accept it anyway. But it’d still try to protect my presentation or work unless i had to accept certain feedback that were correct