Josh Cook- "Without finding people willing to follow you, you cannot really be a leader."



Josh Cook did not expect to be at College of the Ozarks. Like so many of us have done, he was too focused on the path directly ahead of him to see other options. God, however, had other plans for Josh. Unexpected challenges and a change of perspective opened him to a new path; a path that has led him to new opportunities at Point Lookout and C of O.

We found Josh at the College of the Ozarks campus dairy barn, where he cares for the animals and upkeep of the barns as part of the work program. Many would complain about such difficult, manual labor. For Josh, however, the dairy barn at school feels like home. The early mornings, caring for newborn calves, aiding in the daily milking process; it is second nature to Josh.

“I grew up on a dairy farm in Seymour, Missouri. It taught me about hard work at a young age, and I can see how that work ethic has paid off throughout my life. Some people talk about how farm life could never be for them, but for my family, it is just what we’ve known.”

Family is something that Josh takes quite seriously. Growing up with two sisters was challenging at times, but he says that the environment created by his parents allowed for the family to grow close.

“I tried to stay reasonable and level headed in any sort of conflict situations. I sort of found myself taking on the peacemaker role in our house whenever it was needed.”

Josh accredits his Dad with demonstrating the first real examples of leadership he can remember. “I really looked to my Dad as the strong and loving leader of our family. He is a true example of a hard work ethic, but even while waking up every day at 3 A.M. to tend to the farm, he made sure to put us above himself.”

Athletics also became a major part of Josh’s life, as he became involved in basketball and baseball. His coaches investing in him on and off the field proved to be motivational for Josh. As the graduation date drew closer, Josh was seeing life fall into place. He had decided to go to Williams Baptist College with a guaranteed spot on their baseball team. But things were not quite what he expected.

“My main reason for going to Williams Baptist was to play baseball, but things were so different there. I didn’t feel like I was being challenged or really invested in. Plus being away from my family was beginning to wear on me.”

Josh remembered conversations he had with his math teacher about C of O, and he began to look at Hard Work U as an option. He transferred shortly after being accepted, and has now shifted his focus of study to a degree in Math Education.

“Math is constant that is always true. It can teach students to look at problems differently; to step back and think about the whole picture. That is why I love it. But even beyond that, I enjoy teaching because it provides purpose. You have the opportunity to help students grow through your work, which is so rewarding.”

In the future, Josh is hoping to better his leadership skills with opportunities at C of O and beyond. He values a leader’s ability to lead by example and communicate effectively.

“As leaders, we can have great ideas that we want to share, but if we have no communication skills then the idea is no good. Developing that skill is something that I am constantly working on.

Josh has plans to return to his hometown to both teach and coach within his community. He says he hopes to stay close to his family, helping on the farm and eventually being able to involve his kids in that same process. Josh is passionate about bettering his community, and has some opinions that differ from common views of success in today’s society.

“In most small towns in America, all of the ‘good’ kids grow up and try to leave immediately. They think that this will help to give them a better life, but what it means for the community is that all of the other kids stay. This can really effect the growth of a town. If you want to see change in your community, you have to be willing to sacrifice of yourself and really invest in what is happening there.”

As Josh looks ahead, he is focused on developing and encouraging his followers, whether in the classroom or on the field.

“For me, leadership is only successful if you have people who are willing to follow you and listen to what you have to say. I want to reach out to my students in a way that they feel comfortable with listening to me. Without finding people willing to follow you, you cannot really be a leader."