Alexander The Great and A College Student by Raphael

Alexander The Great and A College Student by Raphael - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Alexander The Great, also know as the Man Who Conquered The World, was the greatest leader of his time. It was said that his men were so faithful to him that if they were so ordered to, they would march off a cliff for him. What made these men so faithful, that they would give their lives for him? The answer lies in his great success as a leader. A leader is steadfast, determined and always prepared for anything thrown his way. These characteristics are essential to success, especially in a college environment.

College is a blank page in every student’s book, and like every other blank page, no one really knows where to start. As many students enter college, they are not used to all of the freedom it has to offer. There are no parents to tell you when to wake up, go to sleep, do your homework, study, eat, or wash your cloths. Temptations are abundant: do you study for a test, or go to a party? Play video games, or do your physics homework? With all of the freedom that is presented to a student, it is important to have discipline in order to be successful in a college scene. With the skills of a leader, one can be extremely successful. A leader is steadfast and disciplined. A leader sees the goal at the end of the tunnel, and has the discipline to focus on their goal, and the steadfastness to stick with their plan without wavering. With everything that college has to offer, it is important for one to be disciplined: to see, as the leader sees, the light at the end of the path, and the steadfastness to work hard towards that goal without becoming distracted. As Alexander The Great was able to conquer his world with his steadfastness and discipline, a student too can conquer their world of graduation with those same characteristics.

Furthermore, The Great Alexander was not Great his whole life, nor was he Great with ease. He had to initially climb the ranks of the army to become the general he was. As a general, he witnessed countless defeats, but that did not stop him. He knew he was fighting for his home town, for Greece. Defeat was not an option, but that did not mean that it was impossible. There are always road bumps in the road. The path to true success is never smooth a smooth one. So what is it that kept Alexander going? His determination. When he was pushed down, he got back up. When he was doubted, he proved himself. His determination is what made him “The Great”, rather than just “Alexander”. As college students we can take his example and put it to use. For example, the engineering field is one of the most brutal in its competition and level of difficulty. People doubt, discourage, and attempt to convince one that he is not able to complete the task at hand: attaining an engineering degree. What would Alexander do when he was doubted? He would pick up his sword and shield, and prove that he could in fact defeat his foe. Likewise, a college student would pick up their pen and paper, and pass their exams. A college student must be determined to go through thick and thin in order to be successful in college.

Consequently, some would say that Alexander the Great was a great leader due to his great skill with his sword and shield, however, I beg to differ. I believe Alexander was a great leader because he was always prepared for everything and anything. If there was an attack that sprung in the middle of the night, Alexander was at the front lines with his army in the matter of minutes. A college student should also be prepared for anything. A college student should read a professor's syllabus, and study everyday, they should be ready for pop quizzes, and tests. A student should be organized, and capable of meeting deadlines, and even improvise in situations that were not foreseen in their original plan. In doing so, a student will be extremely successful.

Clearly, as Alexander the Great was able to conquer his world, a college student can conquer the world of university with similar characteristics demonstrated by Alexander. Steadfastness, discipline, determination, and preparation are all aspects of a leader that make them successful. A leader is never hindered, and this is an extremely crucial part of being in college. With the skills of a leader, one can be extremely successful and prosperous in college.