Why you can be successful even if you aren't a leader by Jackson

Why you can be successful even if you aren't a leader by Jackson - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Consider the "popular kid". We all know one- that one person that can get away with anything because of his smile and his smooth talking. The one who is somehow friends with every single person in the school. We've been told to be that guy or that girl. We've been told that exuding confidence is the only way we'll ever find success or happiness. Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you that we have not been put on this earth to be anyone other than ourselves. I am here to tell you that you can find the same level of satisfaction and gratification in your college career without any of the so-called leadership skills that the "popular kid" displays.

I'm not trying to insult that personality; it's great that they have become comfortable with their identity so early in life. However, the glorification of this type-A personality sometimes leads to kids feeling less comfortable with their own identity, and that is unacceptable. Everybody has worth, and everybody has value. Everybody is perfectly capable of having success in college, even if they are not comfortable with being a leader. If you can stick to these three guidelines, you can have success in college regardless of your social skills or lack thereof.

FIRST:
Persevere. As Miley Cyrus once told us in a very motivational video, it's a climb. Regardless of your opinions on Ms. Cyrus, your college years will, in fact, be a climb. There will be days where you don't feel like getting out of bed. There will be days when you question why you even want to continue your education. There will be days where you won't feel like you have the strength to push forward. These times are the most crucial to your success in college. These times are when you have the opportunity to become greater than your obstacles and rise above your weaknesses. If you can make the conscious decision to get out of bed and do the best you can do in that day, then you've already taken the first step towards success.

SECOND:
Passion. If you don't have that fire burning in your belly that makes you yearn for success, then you're going to have a hard time making it through the hard times that we've mentioned. At times, you may turn to outside sources of motivation. Pinterest, YouTube, and Tumblr all have billions of places where someone else can supply you with temporary motivation. I'm going to tell you something that you already know; it doesn't work. You have to find a reason (or reasons) why you are going to get up and walk out the door and get your work done. You have to find a way to become passionate about what you do. If you can't do that, then maybe you need to find something that you CAN be passionate about.

THIRD:
BE GREAT AT BEING YOU. As we've said, you can be your own person and still have success in college. There is no reason you have to buy into the type-A mindset. On that note, you should also refrain from attempting to become someone else. Do you want to become more fit? Great! Work out and eat healthy! But don't starve yourself until you look like the models on your computer screen. They are them, and you are you. You have to find a way to be happy with you (you're the only one you have to live with anyway). Like I said, if you want to improve yourself, that's amazing! I fully encourage becoming the best you that you can be; I simply caution you from doing so out of self-hate. Remember, the simple fact that you are alive is a miracle, so you never have to worry about living up to anyone's expectations but your own. Just go become the best you that you can be.

If you follow these guidelines you will find success in college, even if you don't have the leadership skills that the "popular kid" has. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to be someone else in order to become successful. They haven't seen what someone like YOU is capable of yet.

Show them.