Leading Yourself Through College by John

Leading Yourself Through College by John - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Success as a college student is highly dependent on the development and utilization of leadership skills. Leadership, defined as "the action of leading a group of people or an organization" (www.oxforddictionaries.com/us), can occur through various approaches and applications. While typically regarded as the outward guidance of others, I contest the most pertinent form of leadership for a college student is inward, by leading yourself.

For many, college is an introduction to independence, calling for the need to establish a balanced lifestyle in an unfamiliar setting. College is often identified as a haven for personal growth and exploration - personally, socially, academically - and thus epitomizes the adage of gaining an output based on one's input. Attending class is not always mandatory, professors are not obligated to remind students of deadlines, and your social life might be more appealing than studying for an exam. Frequently, collegiate student are presented with circumstances similar to these, and are forced to elect a route based on their individual priorities.

This challenge of maturation is meet with, and overcome by the presence of leadership skills such as diligence, accountability, time management, aspiration, and self reliance, to name but a few. A student who leads themselves with such qualities can anticipate greater and more consistent levels of success as a college student and as an eventual practicing professional than those who do not.

The benefits of possessing and applying leadership skills expound from an inward development to an outward asset. Leaders are highly valued in both academic and professional settings. They see an opportunity where others see a risk. They are committed to personal and professional development, often to the benefit of themselves, their peers, and their school or employer. They are self-aware and steadfast in their pursuits. And most importantly, leaders possess the confidence to accept challenges, and recognize the potential to learn through both failure and success.

For many college students, these formative years offer an initial opportunity for self-discovery, while acting as a conduit between life in academia and life in a chosen industry. And though in may be true that professional potential is not encrypted in collegiate performance, there is no denying the impact leadership skills have on a student's success while in college. The ability to develop these skills while in college will enable students to grow through their academic endeavors, while familiarizing themselves with leaderships skills essential for a successful career.