Leading to Success by Alexis

Leading to Success by Alexis - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Would you give a job to someone who is always looking down, gives very shy or quiet answers, and doesn't seem to give that "can do" attitude? What about to someone who looks you in the eye, answers each question confidently and clearly, and exerts an “I can do this” attitude? Even if both applicants have the same educational experience and both fulfill the requirements of the job, you would probably give the job to the second applicant. Having leadership skills in college will help you later in life when you are job hunting as well as helping you in college.

Having leadership skills doesn't mean you have to be a leader all the time. But some of the skills you learn, like confidence, decision making, critical thinking, initiative, and many others will help in the college world as well in the business world. College is supposed to prepare you for the “real world” and help you succeed in your chosen field. Having leadership skills shows everyone, including you, that you’re confident and can do the job at hand.

College is where you can learn leadership skills, and put your new skills to the test. There are different situations that require different skills and different levels of intensity when you’re putting your skills to the test. You need to have a positive attitude when you are studying and no matter how many times you look at the book, you still can’t make heads or tails of it. You need to be a good team builder and member when working in a group so everyone can have a hand in finishing the project and no one is left doing all the work or none of the work. Listening to your professors when they are teaching and they mention an internship opportunity that you might have missed if you were playing on your laptop or doodling during class is another example of a leadership skill.

There is a difference between being a leader and just being bossy. Assigning people to do work and not working yourself is not a leadership skill to have or use. Joining an already formed and functional group and start making demands without first sitting down and discussing what they are doing and how you can help isn't going to win you any leadership points either. Being a good leader also means you can be a good follower. You just have to learn to balance the two.

None of these skills mean you have to run for president or lead every group activity. Not everyone can or should be a leader all the time. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians can lead to no work being done and a lot of headache. Be honest with yourself, if you’re not comfortable being the center of attention then don’t be. Just have the self-confidence that when you have to lead the group, or make the persuasive presentation in front of the entire department defending your theory, you can do it.

So why should you have leadership skills? Leadership skills help influence potential employers your capable. They also help when you have to self-motivate yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed during midterms and finals. Now, do you believe leadership skills are necessary for college success?