Persistence is Key by Haley

Persistence is Key by Haley - December 2021 Scholarship Essay

It is hard to depict a single word that describes a leader, as leaders hold so many valuable traits that distinguish them. However, if I had to pick one, I would have to say a leader is persistent. Difficulties are going to come up, and a leader must know how to get past them. Being persistent also means having a goal in mind, which drives one to keep going. Lastly, persistence is key to keeping any of their followers optimistic and determined. There are dozens of traits that make up a leader, but any true leader has the endurance to keep going when it seems impossible.
In pursuing anything, obstacles are going to arise, and the solution is not always going to be clear. Any successful business to ever exist has gotten past these difficulties and managed to find a solution, or else they wouldn’t still be up and running. This is important because it shows why a leader needs persistence. If one doesn’t have the determination to find a way out of trouble, then they are going to sink deeper into it when it comes. Motivation is not always present, and to keep going one needs discipline and a positive attitude.
To add on, a leader always has a goal in mind (short-term and long-term). I think of this goal as an extension of being persistent, because without it one is sure to fail. Trying to do something without a purpose or end goal is like driving without a destination. For instance, say there are two different people trying to open a restaurant. One is doing it to make money with no clear vision in his head, while the other has purpose behind his business (such as bringing the community together with food and picturing his restaurant doing so). The second person is more likely to succeed because he knows what he wants and has an end goal in mind. This is why a leader needs goals: it will keep them moving forward and give them motivation to constantly improve.
Adding on to the many reasons why being a leader requires persistence, it will keep any of their followers intent on reaching their own goals. Nobody would look up to someone who gives up on their dreams. If a leader stays diligent with what they are trying to accomplish, it will encourage others to do the same so that they can succeed. This is especially the case with a boss at work. If a boss is slacking off and not doing their job correctly, their staff is more likely to do the same because they think it’s acceptable. On the other hand, think of a famous athlete, and how so many people aspire to be them. Their abidance in working out and eating right and having a good attitude gives all of their fans inspiration to be better people themselves. Leaders have such a huge impact on everyone around them, and the key to their success is their persistence.