While in high school, it is important to remember that the extent of your growth and learning is not limited to the classroom. Leadership has many definitions, and students tend to think that they must be the person with the title in front of his or her name in order to have influence. Being a leader does not always mean that you lead from the front. You can lead from the middle and the back, too.
What do I mean by this? We can be a leader in our families, to our best friend, or to a group of people. Many of you will not be the public figure or spokesperson of a club or organization. Some of you may end up being the quieter leader that builds up the motivation of others from within the group. We can all be leaders, regardless of being introverted or extroverted. All you need is a desire to see change occur. If you want to see your family relationships improve, be the example of that change. If you want your friends to stop participating in activities on the weekends that you don’t agree with, be the example of that change. If you want to see your community improve, build relationships with people of influence that will help you bring about that change.
If you have helped an individual or a group of people reach a goal by being inspirational, then you have displayed leadership. It’s that simple. Why do you think college admission officers review applicants holistically instead of reviewing students based on just intellectual ability? It’s because they see the importance of students with the drive to change their families, friends, and communities. They want communicators. They want to see students with a passion to make this world a better place. So, be the change that you want to see around you. Lift up your neighbor and seek opportunities to build your character.