Growing up Leaders by Riley

Growing up Leaders by Riley - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Growing up we are all given lessons and talks about what being a true leader means, and how someday we will all have to step up to the plate and fulfill the shoes that have walked before us. As we grow older our teachers, and family members hope that they have taught us everything about what it truly means to be a good leader because once you land in college you are the leader of your entire life.

While growing up I never actually realized how much our teachers and family members prepare you to be a leader until I reached college. It was here that I realized everything revolves round your leadership skills. Not only does a college want you to thrive academically but also personally. Colleges will look for leadership in resident assistants, orientation leaders, and many other positions on campus.

As a first year college student everything changes really fast. You have to adjust to being the sole person responsible for yourself. There is no one there to wake you up in the morning, or remind you to do your homework. You have to be very disciplined so you can keep up with your school work, volunteer hours, work schedule, class schedule, and your cleaning schedule. Let's face it you need to clean that little dorm room at one point or things will start growing that shouldn't grow!

Everyone has a little bit of leadership qualities inside themselves. The most recent example of student leadership I have witnessed is when my professor and head director of the Biology department died unexpectedly. All of his biology students came together to keep up on our studies and help each other transition to another class and lab. Before his prayer service we honored him by walking together as one to show him and his family our love and appreciation. Other ways I have shown my leadership skills is by tutoring a dyslexic child for two years and another young child with learning disabilities for a year.

As you can tell having good leadership skills is very crucial to being successful in college, and as I move on to my career as a Physicians Assistant I will be able to use my leadership skills to help others around me. Thus allowing myself to take the right action for my patients and colleagues.