In like a Lion, out like a Lamb by Grace

In like a Lion, out like a Lamb by Grace - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

I chose to take psychology as one of my electives for my junior year of high school. The course mostly consisted of us watching and analyzing films and taking down notes from our textbooks. As it was over a year ago, I do not remember much from the class. I remember being excited when we watched one of my favorite movies, Inception, and I remember feeling touched when we discussed mental illnesses, but not much else. But there is one other thing that for some reason has resonated with me even long after my completion of the nine-week course.

We were discussing personality types and the many ways people can be characterized. Left brain, right brain, Type A, Type B- those kinds of categories. We also discussed how people can be assigned animals based on their personalities. One animal stuck out to me- the lion. One would be considered a lion if he or she was a strong leader. The lion is the king of the jungle, and has an enchanting appeal. Who would not want to be a lion?

We then discussed how when groups of people work together, if there are multiple lions in a group, confrontation can occur. The matching personalities clash as they both vie to be the leader and take charge. What seems to be a distinguished trait can end up causing turmoil if not handled correctly. We discussed that there needs to be a balance of personalities for a group to work cohesively. Some people are born leaders, and some people are born followers. I feel followers often get the reputation of being spineless, unoriginal people who can only function when told to do so. This is just false.

If someone is not a leader, he or she can still be a completely valuable member to a group. Contributing ideas and successfully and efficiently completing tasks is just as important as organizing them. After all, if everyone was a leader, the group would end up fighting itself into failure. Perhaps the most important skills needed for college are the abilities to be compassionate and understanding. Every person brings different traits to the table, and every type of person- whether a lion or a lamb- should be proud of his or her gifts, make the most with what he or she has been given, and have the respect and open-mindedness to see the value in others.