Sen. McGuire Tells Romeoville Students Good Leaders Listen, Work as a Team

Illinois State Senator Pat McGuire told a little secret to members of the Irene King Student Council Tuesday.

“I get really, really nervous when I’m in a Senate session. So I hardly ever talk,” he told the Romeoville elementary school youngsters who are attempting to soak up everything they can about being leaders themselves. “My disposition is to be shy. But that’s OK because you can still be shy and be a leader.”

The former high school English teacher wasn’t shy about telling the students good leaders are good listeners, quoting William Shakespeare who said “Listen to many, speak to a few.”

“I have learned when to listen and when to state my case,” Sen. McGuire said. “I’d rather be a member of a team because I like the discussion. I like the teamwork. I like the give and take even if I don’t always agree with what’s said.”

The Senator acknowledged that the State of Illinois has many problems but he told King Student Council members it’s important for state legislators to work together to resolve those problems just like it’s important for students to work together to resolve school issues.

“In my 18 months as Senator, I’ve learned there are a lot of good people in Springfield, good Democrats and good Republicans,” he said. “I’ve learned being a leader is a human endeavor. Just because someone is elected, that doesn’t mean you’re perfect. We all have good days and bad days. We have days when we’re thinking clearly and we have days when our thinking is muddled. We have days when we’re bold and we have days when we’re chicken.”

Sen. McGuire praised the Student Council members for “starting your service to the school and the community” at such a young age and urged them to look at various leadership styles to find the style that’s most comfortable for them.

“You all should think about going into politics when you get older because we need good people like you who are unselfish,” he said. “But remember, you don’t want to do it if it’s not going to be fun for you.”