The Path to College Success by Celina

The Path to College Success by Celina - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Sometimes people think that just by graduating from college with passing grades is what makes the college experience successful. But college is more than getting good grades; it is a time for learning, for growth, to enhance opportunities, and for building life skills, with leadership skills being one of the major ones. Leadership skills are necessary for college success because, first and foremost, what you do or do not do in college will play into the rest of your life after graduation, such as graduate school and the job market. With the job market growing more competitive by the year, just graduating with good grades is not always enough. Leadership skills and positive personal qualities are being sought after in addition to passing grades.

To gain or enhance this skill, one has to be able to get involved on campus; join group organizations, participate in university wide events, or join a sports team. Not only will this be fun but it is a great way to begin to network. Networking is beneficial for future references because often times, it is not about what you know but who you know in the job market. Leadership has a lot to do with managing change. Leaders must be flexible and willing to adapt to different situations; they must be confident, take initiative and be involved with his/her surroundings. College is the perfect place to learn how to do this because for most students it is their first time away from home on their own and they have to learn how to be a responsible adult and to grow as a person.

In college, professors look for people that possess leadership skills and the willingness to work. It not only makes teaching more of an enjoyable experience but it will also help the student if they later need recommendation letters or quite possibly a future job. Throughout college, having leadership skills shows employees or scholarship donors that you have the potential to succeed and better yourself. Nothing is worse for an employee than feeling like they made a hiring mistake or a scholarship donor feeling like their money is going to waste. Leadership skills show that one has goals and a vision for the future, and that he/she is willing to work to bring those goals and visions to fruition.

Overall, leadership skills are necessary for college success because nothing is going to be handed to us. We must learn and make mistakes which in turn will help us grow to be better leaders. With the right leadership skills one can inspire their peers around them to seek to enhance their own leadership abilities as well as prepare them for their own future endeavors.