Opinion | Leadership Lessons in My 1950s Boarding School

When I was 17, the head of my school told me I ought to see myself as a leader. I’m reminded of that as I read about a growing trend in academia to adopt programs like Yale Law School’s new Joseph C. Tsai Leadership Program. I don’t know if leaders are born or trained, but I see value in this kind of leadership development. Budding leaders need mentors who encourage strong character.

I had one. As a junior at Hotchkiss School in 1955, I followed my headmaster down the main corridor. He showed me a plaque honoring the winners of the alumnus-of-the-year award and asked if I knew how many had been “scholarship boys.” He listed those who had come from families of limited means like mine.