Read the excerpt from pat mora’s essay "the leader in the mirror." the final gift of the evening, a mirror, was for serious gazing. i asked the students if they saw a leader when they looked into their mirrors. my guess is that too many of our young people do not see themselves as leaders because they don’t look, dress or sound like the images of leaders presented to us. but leaders come in all colors, shapes and sizes. some are talkative while others are quiet, but they all share a determination to contribute to the society of the future. i urged the students to look often in their mirrors and to ask themselves these questions: "am i satisfied with this world? if not, what will i do to improve it? ” for if we are shaped by our surroundings, we in turn shape them. we deceive ourselves if we believe that we can live neutral lives. what is the author’s purpose in using a mirror as a symbol? the author’s purpose is to demonstrate how the mirror symbolizes power. the author’s purpose is to demonstrate how the mirror symbolizes beauty. the author uses the mirror as a symbol of self-reflection and encourages students to see themselves as leaders. the author uses the mirror as a symbol of contentment and encourages students to be more satisfied with the world.