I'm a Marine who pushed myself to the brink for promotions — until I learned true leadership isn't about rank or title

• As a Marine, I wanted to be a leader, so I chased promotions and rank. • I even pushed myself so far physically to pass one exam and earn a promotion. • I later learned true leadership has nothing to do with title.

When I enlisted in the Marines, I came in with no real expectations. I didn't have a clear picture of what military life would be, but I had ambition. I wanted to be somebody with authority, the kind of Marine whose rank spoke before he did. I believed promotion was the key.

At first, I thought the promotion ladder would be straightforward: follow orders, work hard, and opportunities would open up. But the more I immersed myself in the system, the more I saw that my ambitions would collide with a tougher reality.

After pushing myself — both physically and mentally — to