The Leader of Our Pack by Kayleigh

The Leader of Our Pack by Kayleigh - May 2024 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my academic and athletic career, I have encountered many different types of leadership. My teachers, my coaches, my parents, and my friends have all demonstrated and acted as leaders. Leadership means staying focused, displaying confidence, and being influential towards oneself and others. All these qualities are what I believe a good leader should demonstrate and uphold.

Although many people in my life stood out as leaders to me, one that stands out the most is my mother. She demonstrates all the characteristics I believe represent a leader in her personal and professional life. My mother’s occupation is a credentialing assistant at Southern Ocean Medical Center, where she processes applications for new physicians by reviewing resumes and verifying the physician’s information. At her job, my mom must stay focused on one task at a time and make sure that every resume is valid.

At home, my mom faces obstacles while taking care of my special needs brother, who was diagnosed with 16P11.2 microdeletion, a chromosome abnormality that causes cognitive and neurological disabilities. To ensure my brother receives a proper education, my mother had to sue the local school district to have him placed in a private school for students with special needs. With confidence and resilience, she successfully won the case and placed my brother in a special needs private school.

Witnessing my mom prepare for every meeting with the school district leaders and lawyers showed me what confidence in a leader truly is. She stood her ground and stayed strong no matter the circumstances. Leadership represents more than just being in charge. Just like my mother, a leader does whatever it takes to get the job done.

My mother has played a crucial role in shaping the person I am today. Her influence has instilled strength, confidence, and independence in me. Inspired by her, I embarked on leadership roles within my school. As the varsity field hockey captain, I led my team to a winning season and mentored the younger players. I was nominated by my team for an award recognizing my dedication and teamwork. Serving as the president of Chorus, I am responsible for encouraging fundraising ideas from the other choral members. As the treasurer for Key Club, in addition to maintaining the club funding, I lead fundraising efforts within the community such as a can tab collection for The Ronald McDonald House. In every new endeavor, my mother is my greatest supporter, cheering me from the sidelines or standing by my side. As a true leader, she knows when it is time to let others shine.

Many qualities can describe a leader, but I believe being focused, confident, and influential are the most important characteristics of a leader. A good leader is someone whom people can look up to and trust. Of all the people who have influenced my leadership abilities, the most influential person has been my mother. She is one of the most influential people that I know and possesses many qualities that represent a leader. I hope to be able to share my leadership skills in the future with others and be an influence just like my mother.