College Makes a Leader by Samantha

College Makes a Leader by Samantha - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

In today’s world, students are eager to, and are even expected, to live on their own in a college dormitory once they enter their field of post-secondary education. While living on a college campus, students are expected to learn and experience what it means to be an adult, and to balance classes and homework and any activities they wish to participate in during college. Here, ordinary students have numerous opportunities to develop leadership qualities, and students already possessing these traits will be able to pursue their goals in a matter that suits them. When looking at what college is supposed to make of students in addition to giving them the education necessary to be able to one day find the career they desire, one could argue that while prior leadership skills may be very helpful, they are not entirely necessary when entering college.

Nowadays, everybody, no matter your strengths or weaknesses, are encouraged to go to college. Even students who may not want it, or may not be entirely cut out for it, are told that a college or university is the way to go. Logically, not all of these students are at the top of their class, or will display strong interest in academic growth. In short, not all of these students are natural born leaders, or have necessarily put in an effort to develop these qualities. Looking at the way our college education system has grown and adapted over the years, many less academically-motivated students are given opportunities for schooling and careers that do not always require leadership skills. Granted, this is not to say that leadership skills would not help a more ambitious student in their academic pursuits. When applying for schools, many colleges and universities, especially the more prestigious ones, look for examples of leadership and level of involvement in one’s community. But nowadays, nearly anybody can get into college, whether it be Harvard or a local community college, even if they have never displayed these qualities.

Overall, college is meant to help students develop the important skills of being independent. Living on their own and having to keep up on their work and activities allows students to become more self-reliant, and able to find themselves and explore their identity. Depending on the student, many will take their independence a step further into becoming a leader of their community, or at their workplace. Colleges offer all sorts of clubs and events that allow students to step up and become who they want to be, and with an entire new set of faces and people, it becomes much easier for them to build and develop their self-confidence. College is meant to make leaders, and not necessarily harbor prior ones. While prior leadership skills are always an added bonus in becoming one’s own person and following their own dreams, anybody can realize what it means to lead and inspire through college or university, and the through opportunities that may have eluded them before.