Leading Leaders of Tomorrow by Armahn

Leading Leaders of Tomorrow by Armahn - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

I've made my biggest contribution to my community through the Petersburg Leaders Club. I realized that the students within my hometown community in Petersburg, Virginia, deserved more educational and leadership opportunities just as Chesterfield schools. By moving from Petersburg to Chesterfield, I have seen how access to greater opportunities leads to greater academic performance and leadership involvement. My educational opportunities when I was living in Petersburg were limited compared to the specialty centers that were offered when I moved to Chesterfield. Even though my high school holds the most minorities in Chesterfield County, I felt that the impoverished community of Petersburg was still behind such youth development programs. The transition allowed me to realize how much my hometown was missing out on and sparked a passion for how I could contribute and bring back to my community in Petersburg.

I was never the loudest speaker in the room or one to advertise myself because I had low self-esteem and experienced extreme social anxiety early on in high school. However, when I saw that the Petersburg Leaders Club offered character development and leadership-building opportunities for teens, I took advantage and applied, despite living in North Chesterfield. At first, I was nervous about participating in the leadership and service activities out of fear. Although I was consumed by my fears, I made the conscious decision to take on an opportunity that would challenge me in a way in which I could grow beyond my insecurities. I quickly became comfortable and started learning how to lead. Through learning and applying the knowledge gained through service, I soon was granted the position of vice president by the club advisors, in which I facilitated club meetings and organized volunteer opportunities and service projects for the club.

Being Vice President of the Petersburg Leaders Club has been a transformative experience that continues to enhance my character and drive to serve others. Through engaging within my community as the vice president of the Petersburg Leaders Club, I learned the importance of empathy. While getting to know members of the club, I understood their strengths and weaknesses. Most of the teens that I worked with have never spoken publicly or led an activity. With my guidance, I have allowed them to lead icebreaker activities to get them used to being leaders and having confidence in themselves speaking in front of their peers. In addition, another important discovery was the impact of skilled communication. Gathering volunteers and facilitating meetings required communication, not only between me and my peers but also with advisors, faculty, and staff where the volunteer events were held. Seeing middle school and high school teenagers grow from my engagement in building their character, service, and leadership qualities is my motivation to continue leading others. Overall, This Extracurricular activity has allowed me to learn how to contribute to positively impacting my community and has helped me learn from others by making meaningful connections and significant friendships that I can lean on in times of need.