What Makes a Leader by Michael

What Makes a Leader by Michael - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

In order to answer the question “Are leadership skills necessary for college success?” a definition of success is required. Success can be different for anyone taking on the challenge of college. Success could be just simply getting a degree or joining a sorority or fraternity. For the purpose of this essay, it means taking advantage of all that is available in order to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be able pursue a career with vigor.

With this definition, many leadership skills are required to truly succeed in college. Qualities such as self-motivation, drive, vision, responsibility, and passion are required of student leaders. These skills are applicable to all aspects of life and can be used on any scale, including the purpose of a college success. There are sure to be times where students will need to work together in order to complete a task, whether it is on an assignment or part of an organization or outreach event.

Great leaders are people who are self-motivated. They do not need others to push them nor do they rely on feedback from others. Leaders remove obstacles that prevent them and others from reaching goals. An internal sense of accomplishment is essential, as well as self-reliance. Motivation allows college students to grow and become independent of their mentors.

Another part of being a great leader involves the ability to push through challenges or obstacles they cannot remove. Leaders may find themselves working in unfavorable conditions such as weather, illness, and mental, physical, or social stress. Some of these challenges may not be personal or even removable, so an alternate solution must be found. This drive is required to work through the toughest problems in order to meet deadlines or goals. While it may be easier to skip a lecture to sleep in, successful college students can push through fatigue and ailments to get the most out of every second of the college experience.

Another important trait that is required is the ability to see the big picture. Leaders must be able to see the overall goal that they are trying to achieve. Without a complete picture, parts may be missing or incomplete and the project may never be finished. This vision allows leaders to coordinate their work with the work of others. In parallel, a college student needs to see the ultimate goal not of just a diploma, but of life after college.

Responsibility is necessary for success because it links personal beliefs into the project or job. Without being responsible, a leader isn’t much of a leader at all. Responsibility is the reputation of a leader. Consistently putting a leader’s all into a project is key. Without devoting time to a project, the project cannot flourish. Similarly, without responsibility, classwork in college can fall to the wayside.

Passion is also an important element in the success of a leader. Without the desire to achieve, leaders may become followers. College students need to be excited about what they have before them to accomplish. In college, students will need to strive to be the best they can be to get the most out of the college experience and prosper in life after college.

All of these skills are necessary for true success in college and these skills are those of a leader. Leaders must be able to get through all the challenges and obstacles in front of them while still having the desire to press on. Leadership helps to develop students into adults who can face the real world test.