Prompt: Lex Luthor - "That, my friend, is the key to leadership. Not only knowing you're right, but convincing everyone else. If you can do that, the world's your oyster." - 'Smallville'
"Lay off Finn everybody. It's not his problem."*
He knew Kurt had been trying to help him with those words but somehow, they only made him feel worse. Perhaps because deep down he knew it should have been his problem. He claimed he wanted to be a leader, but a leader stood up for those he was trying to lead. He didn't turn his back on them because it was easier or what others were doing. A leader didn't fall prey to peer pressure.
Yet he had.
Deep down he knew what was right. He knew that Kurt had just as much right to live his life the way he wanted as the rest of them. He knew that his soon to be stepbrother shouldn't have to walk the halls of the school feeling terrified of those around him. Knew that Kurt shouldn't have to endure the bullying that he dealt with every day.
But knowing all of that, and convincing others to see it's truth were two different things. Turning a blind eye to what Karofsky and the other jocks were doing to Kurt was just as bad as going along with it.
Quinn was right. Sam's actions were those of a leader's. Sam knew what was right and took a stand for it. Yes, he'd gotten a black eye for his efforts but at least he had tried.
If he wanted to be a leader then he would have to stop taking the safe way out. A leader didn't follow the crowd in an effort to stay popular, yet that was what he had been doing.
Well, he was done following the crowd. It was time to start taking responsibility for his actions and standing up for what he knew was right. Maybe he wouldn't be the most popular kid in school for doing that but he was sure of one thing, he would have the approval of those who mattered most to him.
More importantly, he would be able to hold his head up high knowing he had done what was right.
*Dialogue taken from "Furt"