Certainly a big step in the right direction.
Walk softly, let your actions speak for you.
If your head is in the right place they'll say more than you ever could.
Your young, so always, listen much, speak little.
Ok to have an opinion when asked, but you don't need to tell everyone what it is without being asked.
Pick out a few people, 2 -3, who have the respect of the entire community.
Watch how they do it, watch how they interact. Learn from them. See what they do in a given situation.
Then emulate them.
Its hard sometimes not to be a little yapping dog, your excited. It's easy to forget and just start yapping away.
But those yappers are never respected and are seldom listened to.
But the dog that sits back, listens to all that is said. Then calmly sums up in a very few words the crux of the subject.
Perhaps indicating why he would chose one over the other, and sits back down, he is both listened to, and respected.
Whats more he will often be followed.
Learn to lead from example.
All of it takes time, patience, persistence, and perseverance.
The 3 P's should be your friend, but like any friendship, they have to be cultivated, practiced.
