From Leader to Follower or Follower to Leader by Mckinnis

From Leader to Follower or Follower to Leader by Mckinnis - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

To be great leaders, we have to be great followers. Many people don't realize how hard that is. It's a lot easier to tell people what to do and how to do things, than it is to be told what to do and how to do it. It’s easier to be the bossy kid than to be the kid who everyone picks on. We are defensive and sensitive creatures. We also live in this generation of “me,” making it harder to realize that our ways aren’t always the right ones. Now, to answer the question, “Are leadership skills necessary for college success? Why or why not?” we first have to address the more leering question, which is, “What exactly is college success?”
Well, it’s all subjective. Some might argue that college success is graduation or obtaining a degree. I would say that college success is defined as achieving one’s goals. For me, college is about furthering my education, becoming career ready, and gaining the full “college experience.”

To be good learners, we have to be good listeners. People who are more knowledgeable and more-well rounded are often more successful in life. As a freshman in college, I anticipate being involved in several group projects, and starting off at the bottom of the food chain. I, then, can learn from the group project leaders, and figure out what is and isn’t successful with group efforts. From such experiences, I intend to one day be the person running the group. I want to be the person that gets everyone that idolized A+ that’s so sought after. Most people aren’t as successful individually as they are in a group. I believe that’s why there are so many of us. We are meant to work together. The most important thing is that we have good leaders. If we can learn how to be great leaders in college, we can truly say we have gained college success.

If college isn’t about figuring out whom we are and what we are good at, then what is it about? College is the most opportune time to learn from those who have been in our positions, and using it to our benefits. By learning to follow those who are successful, we become successful. There is not better place than, for me, Towson University.