The Role of the Underrated Follower by Kara

The Role of the Underrated Follower by Kara - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Leadership skills are not necessary for college success. The role of leadership is far too overrated in today's culture of worshiping outspoken personalities and demand for individuality. I will be the first to admit that leaders are very important to our culture. However, the role of the follower is sadly underrated.

If the whole world were leaders, who would they lead? While the leaders are the ones who begin things, the ones who inspire people, without followers, the blue collars, no real work would be established. Without soldiers to follow his orders, Washington would have never liberated the US from Britain. Without individual advocates, Martin Luther King would have been no great force behind the Civil Rights Movement. Without workers, the Roman Emperor Titus would never have completed the Colosseum.Followers are just as necessary to college life as they were to these three men. A college that were to accept only leaders would be able to say great things about their alumni, but nothing in the college would ever take off. Without followers, a leader is like a farmer with no seeds to plant. He may have many great ideas of how to grow a successful crop, but without the seeds he cannot see his plans through. Followers are team oriented, loyal, patient, perceptive, and honest. Without these necessary personalities a campus cannot survive.

In conclusion, follower skills are every bit as important as leadership skills to a college. If a student had the good characteristics of a follower, then it should not matter if he is lacking in leadership skills. A good leader knows how important followers are to him, and so should colleges.