A Leader Emerges by Spencer

A Leader Emerges by Spencer - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

We had been down all game. My teammates were becoming argumentative and our lifelong friendships seemed to be dissipating as we walked to the locker rooms. Coach pitched us a spiel of revival but it seemingly had gone in one ear and out the other. Pairs of eyes wandered amongst one another in hopes of finding a leader to rise to the occasion. With the pressure on me, I did just that. We stormed the court in the second half on a 9-0 run and stole the game from the number one seed. We were going to the playoffs.

Just as leadership won us that basketball game, leaderships will win us the game of college. In order to answer this question, we must first ask ourselves, why do we attend college? We attend college in order to gain the competitive edge in the job market that so many teens are desperately grappling for. This day in age too many of my peers fantasize about all the “fun” college has to offer, rather than all the challenges it consequently throws at you. In order to overcome these obstacles, one must possess adequate leadership skills that guide not only yourself, but others to the ultimate goal of graduation.

Upon entering a University, distinctive leadership qualities are easily the most important traits an aspiring student can possess. The ability to bring the best out of others is exponentially more important than bringing the best out of yourself. When tapping into the potential of four well qualified teammates, you’re also shedding light to some of your most impactful qualities.

It’s imperative that as students, we carve our own path to success rather than conforming to the demands of others. With leadership skills, the carving of this path is fundamentally easier. A good leader has the ability not to succumb to the terrors of peer pressure. A good leader can serve as a role model to future prospects than will be in very same shoes I am in today. A good leader accepts nothing less than one hundred percent effort from all of whom he leads, but also understands that nobody is perfect, including himself.

By learning from prominent leaders in my life, I have discovered leadership skills are essential to college success. Without the ability to lead, it’s very easy to be swallowed up with the majority of the citizens in this country who face a similar problem. However leaders are the shining stars in America. Leaders are innovators, creators, and above all, successful.