Being Your Own Leader by Jennifer

Being Your Own Leader by Jennifer - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Many people have different definitions of what it means to be successful in college; whether it is having a good GPA, being popular around campus, or getting into graduate school. However, college is the first time in a student’s life where they have to take control of their own time, set their own goals and achieve them with their own plans. Leadership skills are important to being successful in college. The most successful college students are the ones who quickly adjust to changes and are willing to work with their current resources to achieve their objectives. All of these traits are also found in effective leaders.

When people tend to think of a leader, they tend to think that a leader is a person who is in charge of other people and who takes the initiative to turn ideas into reality. A great leader is determined, persuasive, and unwavering. These characteristics are also great for a college student to have. Not only are college students expected to keep up with their classwork, they are expected to plan their futures, make life-altering decisions, and build relationships all on their own.

A college student needs leadership skills to lead themselves, not others. This can include knowing when to seek help for a class or surrounding themselves with supportive peer or managing their time wisely. There are many distractions in college life and the majority of the unsuccessful college students are the ones who do not prioritize or who are unable to adjust to the rigorous college coursework. The characterizes of a leader are essential for being successful in college because the college students who can lead their own academic careers will be able to build self-confidence, plan wisely, and become future workplace leaders.