Student Leaders and the World Beyond by Gabrielle

Student Leaders and the World Beyond by Gabrielle - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Leadership skills promote the emotional, intellectual, and social growth necessary for optimal success on college campuses. Leadership in college means embracing commitment to academic endeavors, flexibility and adaptability to the unknown, and courage and humility for the unreachable. These qualities separate real leaders from the pretenders. Academic leaders who possess the intellectual quotient represent leaders who master schooling. However, it is the inner leader, the “je ne sais quoi” person who masters life and its challenges through determination, grit, and emotional intelligence. Leaders will be called to learn from experiences, initiate change, rise to challenges, persist in the face of difficulties, and resist obstacles-both intellectual and emotional- and overcome them. These are the hallmarks of winners. Students with leadership skills will be a positive factor on college campuses.

Understandably, the immersion of, “new,” is thrust upon students who struggle to understand a new lifestyle of freedoms: academic freedoms coupled with personal freedoms. Students have to show commitment to their academic endeavors and not forget their purpose for being in dorms and classes; forgoing hard partying and drinking that impede their learning. Part of the test for good leaders is reliability and commitment. Leadership skills that consist of persistence and determination are clearly seen in those who never forget their objective: to get a college degree. College comes with a number of requirements, including but not limited to: mastery of rigorous subject matter, possessing individual responsibility, and the ability to function successfully with cultural and social integration. Student leaders know how to organize their time to give priority to the things that are important: learning and growing in intellect and understanding. Leaders are committed to their cause.

Flexibility and adaptability are important core leadership qualities. College students must respond appropriately and effectively to diverse pressures daily. Good leaders must be able to react to the unknown and adapt to changes. Students must learn to juggle classes and professors, which differ in sizes and personalities respectively. Some subject classes may be forty people and some may be within an auditorium size consisting of 300 people or more. Professors may be laid-back philosophers who discuss and search students ‘minds for intellect or instructors operating as academic ninjas who drill subject matter without regard to students’ engagement or ability. Subject matters, dorm rooms, social norms, and cultural values flow in a free mix of diversity as people from different regions come together for a college education. Students must adjust to new stimuli, while maintaining their own identity and perspectives. Being flexible and adaptable in college prepares students for changes in real-world applications.

Next, good leaders must possess courage when recognizing their inadequacies. Resisting pride, self-confident leaders request assistance when they are in need. Leaders recognize that self-confidence does not equal arrogance, but acknowledges strengths, and when necessary, weaknesses. Leaders must have a teachable spirit and be willing to learn what they do not know. Strategic leaders pursue knowledge by surrounding themselves with other professional people who are more accomplished and knowledgeable than them. Good leaders, in this case, students, must humble themselves for the greater good: to receive tutorial services. Leaders do what’s necessary to get the job accomplished, even when it means humbling themselves.

Thus, possessing leadership skills are important college factors. Leadership qualities, such as courage, adaptability and flexibility, and commitment are overarching qualities of leadership that also encompass persistence, acceptance, the pursuit of excellence, and determination. Leaders can embrace novel experiences, peoples, and situations and rise to their challenges. Esteemed poet and writer, Maya Angelou, once said, to a group of business leaders, “Nothing will work unless you do.” Students who exhibit leadership skills signal their ability to operate in the adult arena of business and life. Student leaders portend positive successes for colleges and the world beyond.