My Leadership Journey by Gabrielle

My Leadership Journey by Gabrielle - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Leadership is an important skill one must possess for future success in any field. Leadership is not one skill set but a categorization of many. Leadership can only be achieved if you have people willing to follow you. There are many important characteristics you must possess to be a successful leader. Leadership is an important component of success because of the many traits it contains.

High School and college have both seemed to be overwhelmingly pushing for students to participate in leadership programs. I was hesitant at first, wondering what the purpose was in leadership programs, I had always thought of leadership as an innate characteristic. I considered leadership to be in the same category as kind, compassionate, trustworthy, and many others, all of which I categorize as being personal characteristics one possesses without any lessons or workshops (all of which are important in being a good leader). Looking back on my decision to join Star Leadership in High School, a program accompanied by seminars and a final leadership project, I am glad that I decided to take it. Yes, I still do believe that leadership is an innate characteristic but I believe it to be one that we all have and that we are all capable of improving upon. Star Leadership taught me the importance of this leadership awakening and I have continued to grow upon this in college through similar programs with different names such as the Freshman Leadership Program. College success spans from leadership roles on campus, in your friend groups, and in your own life. You cannot succeed in college by simply blending into the background. College success is leadership success.

I think leadership skills are life skills. They are skills that help you work with people, work with one another and learn more about yourself. Leadership is people skills, individual hard work, and personal goals of bettering yourself. Leadership isn’t a term it is an entire category of characteristics all of which I hope to improve upon to reach my highest level of success. Because to me leadership, a massive category of other traits and skills, is synonymous to success.