Leadership and Success by Cecilia

Leadership and Success by Cecilia - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

There are many skills and attributes necessary for success in college: organization, responsibility, self-motivation, problem-solving, creativity and emotional intelligence, among others. While these are all attributes of leadership, not all successful college students are leaders.

Being a part of the college experience means being a part of a place in which individuals with many different skill sets come together to form a community. While many types of students may experience success, not all of these students possess the combination of qualities that make great leaders.

This truth also exists outside of the college community. Ideally, in the workplace, people are a part of a team with a common goal and vision. Each person brings a certain skill to the team and the team needs a capable leader to instill the vision and inspire the team to execute a plan.

A leader has a unique set of skills and ultimately expects more from herself than others expect from her. Leaders are able to motivate, solve problems, prioritize, strategize, think critically, and perform with integrity.

Many people come out of college successfully and go on to find success in the workplace, but true leaders are few and far between. I believe that leaders experience a special kind of success that requires great sacrifice, but provides great reward.