The Road Less Taken by Zack

The Road Less Taken by Zack - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, I always aspired to lead. Wherever life took me, I tried to be that one kid unlike the other. The leader, not the follower. In elementary school, every teacher of mine gave me a virtually identical nickname; "the headman." Of course, to my simple minded seven year old brain, this meant nothing to me. Now, as I approach the daunting task of college, I am able to put my mind at ease knowing that my leadership skills will allow me to overcome every challenge that I may face in the coming years.

Leaders can be described as a variety of different words. For example, leadership is synonymous with words like "collaboration, strategic thinking, communication, and motivation. In college, those who "think outside the box" are usually the most successful. Leaders are able to push their thinking to the next level. Most importantly, a college diploma isn't given, but earned. Without a drive for success, intelligence is useless. Leaders are fueled by the desire to succeed, and are therefore triumphant in regards to overcoming adversity. Finally, college isn't an independent project. Collaborating with others is key to one's success. A good leader will be able to work effectively with anyone he/she comes into contact with. Clearly, a strong leader is bound for college success.
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.

Steve Jobs put it best by saying "innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Leaders have an uncanny ability to think critically. College revolves around the concept of critical thinking. Not only, are leadership skills necessary for college success, but success in general.