Marking Educated Minds by Breannah

Marking Educated Minds by Breannah - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Aristotle once said, “it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it”. This is what true leaders are able to do, entertain everybody’s thoughts yet still have their own. We live in a world that is metamorphosing everyday, and to be a leader in times like this takes an open minded individual. Throughout history the greatest leaders of the world were people who decided to keep an open mind; this lead to their decision to go against what society thought and be the change we want to see in the world. However, leaders can be found on a smaller scale as well. Athletics and academics are both areas where leaders are able to excel, and this is why I believe that leadership skills are necessary to succeed in college.

Whether you’re a leader on a small or a large scale, you are helping yourself while helping others. I have learned this valuable piece of knowledge through my three year commitment to the outdoor education program offered at my alma mater. I have been a skilled cheerleader since I was young, and I always assumed that being a leader meant being the loudest voice in the group. Through the team building and disciplinary activities offered in O.E., I have learned that being a leader also entails bringing out others best ideas when in a group. I believe that I will be able to use this skill in college to help me succeed in academic group work. Being able to offer my input and education while listening and feeding off of other students’ will help me to receive better grades while making my group members feel appreciated and welcome as well. Leaders such as Condoleezza Rice and Abraham Lincoln did not attain their accomplishments alone, they worked with supporters and listened to what their opponents had to say; these skills allowed them to better themselves. I believe that I possess these same skills, and that is why I will not only do well in college, but I will thrive.

Being a leader also means having your own ideas and thoughts. I think that these two possessions are essential when entering college. Keeping your own morals will be essential when facing the pressures that college entails. There will be hard assignments, social pressures, and tough teachers, this is why it is important to keep your leadership skills and set the example by being the person you want to be and sticking to your ideas and morals. Without these skills I would fear what would happen to my goals and aspirations while in college.

College is a big undertaking, and a big transition. Without the leadership skills I have described I would fear what would happen to my integrity and education; this is why I feel leadership skills are so important.