To lead or not to lead? Is that the question? by Abby

To lead or not to lead? Is that the question? by Abby - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

The phrase "to be a leader" elicits a certain image. A daring gentleman with flowing locks and a stare that could cut glass leading an army into battle or a powerful business man seated at the head of a board meeting spelling out exactly how the business is going to succeed this year. As college students, this image can be seen as a faraway dream or even a fantasy. However, we too can be great leaders. It may not be as excited as storming the battlefield with an army at your backside, but having leadership skills in college is vital for success.

Leadership skills are never a bad thing to have. Not only do they allow you to take charge of a situation when needed, but they also give you a tremendous amount of confidence. This confidence is key in a college setting. College is the first time in your life when you step out on your own. There’s new people, new experiences, and most importantly, new opportunities. Once you are able to command a room with your leadership skills, you will have the confidence to reach out and take those opportunities that come along during your college experience.

Leadership skills can also help you in your classes. No matter what your chosen career field is, nearly every class you take is going to have some aspect of it where you have to work in a group. Whether it is a group paper, project, or even just a simple class discussion, group work will most defiantly show up in your time at college. However, a group is only as good as its leader. Having leadership skills allows you to guide the rest of your team in the right direction, without taking over the whole project and stepping on toes.

Leaders come in all shapes and sizes; from the humble to the arrogant; the attention-seeking to the background players; the David’s and the Goliath’s. Yet they all share one thing in common; they have all achieved greatness. Having the ability to lead in a college setting is just the first stepping stone of many to achieving your own greatness.