Are we all leaders? by Daleena

Are we all leaders? by Daleena - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

To answer the question of whether or not leadership skills are necessary for college success, you must first ask if the success that is being measured is during or after the student’s college experience. I will explore the question from both perspectives.

During a student’s college career I don’t think they have to demonstrate leadership to be successful. I think it is, however important that the student possess drive, determination and perseverance. Without these traits a student will find it difficult to complete their education. The workload, class challenges, life challenges and daily distractions will pull the student off course and away from the goal of graduating with their chosen degree. It doesn’t take a leader to buckle down and study when friends and home life and other potential distractions beg for the attention of the college student. Does the student need to demonstrate leadership skills to attain the set goal of graduating? No. It certainly helps, but they can graduate without being a leader.

What of the recent graduate looking back at their time as a college student. Can they count it success if they pushed their way through as a follower, not the leader in the pack? I say yes. Not everyone will graduate college with honors. The average student will always face challenges, be it a subject they struggle with the content, demands on their time and attention outside the classroom, or the internal personal demands that are from the student themselves. If the student continues, presses on and completes to the goal of graduation, I consider that a success. Not every person is made to be a leader. If everyone were a leader, who would follow? Who would the leaders lead? Success of some varying degree can be attained by all, leader or not.