Backstage Leader by Huong

Backstage Leader by Huong - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

I am a backstage leader. I enjoyed helping behind the scenes at school clubs with various tasks: fundraising and creating an anthology for the school’s library or classes’ walls. During my freshman and sophomore year, I was involved in multiple clubs like the Key Club, National Art Honor Society (NAHS), and my school’s first Asian Student Union. Having to balance work and school during my junior year, I decided that NAHS is the only best option.
Despite of the clubs’ popularity, I noticed a decrease in the seething mass as the school year progressed. There’s a commonality shared among school’s clubs, regardless of their prestige: an ease to the loneliness within the crowd. Personally, I loved the involvement opportunity I experienced in NAHS - we cheer when our club get chosen in the Homecoming Parade, feel the same pride, and act on the same interest. I sometimes hypothesized that the intimidating first impression in those clubs is the reason for people to leave, often hinder them from the experience of being a proactive member.
Going into a large public school, I am primed with the notion of chaos. In spite of the numerous acquainted relations that I’ve built, I am being surrounded rather than included. Consequently, I chose to join school clubs for my college applications with an ultimate hope to find my “destined squad”. Yet, this innocent, High School Musical dream felt impossible in a club that can be larger than a class. As I talked to others, I realized that they struggle with the same problems I have. This realization motivated me to connect with others more. I feel important being the “greeter” of the club, welcoming new members and helping them.
Looking at the peers around me who became officers in multiple clubs, I sometimes have the concoction that I am not doing as much. Still, I would reassess whether it’d be worth it to trade out the quality assets I gained from NAHS for any other clubs. Join an honored club, earn volunteer hours, and become the club’s president - these are the steps that I misconstrued as the definition of leadership. This idea is being challenged when I found a passion in the least expected club, and in exchange, brought values to a small group of people. In doing so, I hope others would feel a real sense of belonging and pride. Go Lions!