Leadership Skills and Determination for College Success by emily

Leadership Skills and Determination for College Success by emily - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Like all novelties, entering college is one of the most frightening yet exhilarating moments for any high school graduate. Cliché as it is, going to college is starting a new journey and learning to conquer the world by oneself. It is a rollercoaster ride full of emotions and constant battles. So, what is it exactly that makes one successful in college? Is it time commitment, determination, or simply luck? I believe that these are all components for college success, but it all boils down to one thing, being a leader.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, leadership is the action of leading a group of people or an organization. However, this definition lacks all the qualities a person needs to be a leader. Yes, an individual needs leadership skills to be successful in college; however, the level of success depends on how perseverant and determined a person is and the measures that person is willing to take to reach the top. Leadership skills involve public speaking, being confident, and being able to guide a group of people towards the right path. To be a good leader and achieve success, one must love what they do. It all comes down to loving what you do because you will fail as a leader if you do not. A well renowned billionaire entrepreneur, Mark Cuban, put the idea in simple terms “ Love what you do or don’t do it.” If you lack leadership skills, your passion and drive will awaken those within you through practice. For example, this has been proven to be right in my case. I am a very quiet person and I get nervous speaking to an audience. However, at my high school I started UNICEF Club, which involves fundraising to help poor children all over the world. In several occasions, I have had to speak to a large group of people about our club projects and why we want to raise so much money. However, because I feel passionate about helping others, I have improved my public speaking skills and I have been able to persuade large groups of people to donate money for a good cause.

No matter who you are, what you do, or when you do it, you will be able to gain leadership skills through your hard work and dedication in whatever it is that you do. Success depends on effort and self-drive in order to reach the end of the tunnel.