What a Hot Wing Challenge Taught Me About Leadership

In celebration of Community College Month, our Student Government Association invited members of our cabinet and me to participate in a “Hot Ones” wing challenge.

I said yes.

That was my first mistake.

What started as a fun student-led event quickly escalated. Each wing got hotter. The reactions got louder. And by the final round, I found myself fighting through tears and chugging nearly a quarter gallon of milk just to make it through.

But what made the experience meaningful had nothing to do with the heat.

After each wing, our students asked us questions. Real questions. About our personal journeys, our leadership, our vision for the college, and the impact of community colleges.

In between the laughter and the struggle, something powerful happened.

It was a reminder that leadership is not always found in formal meetings or carefully planned moments. Sometimes, it shows up when you are willing to be present, to be human, and to meet students where they are.

That day, our students did not just challenge our tolerance for spice. They challenged us to reflect, to listen, and to engage in a way that matters.

And while I may think twice before agreeing to another hot wing challenge, I will not hesitate to show up for moments like that again.

Because those are the moments that remind me why this work matters.

And why community colleges continue to change lives every single day.