EDITOR’S NOTE: Donoho School junior Lawrence Chen originally wrote the following essay for a regional academic competition. The general topic was on leadership within the high school community: What personal qualities contribute to effective leadership? Chen is the son of Margaret Chen and Chien-Hua Chen of Anniston. Leadership is one of the most important characteristics a person can have.
Struggling nations have the potential to revive their economies with influential leaders. Colleges around the United States actively recruit students who display qualities of leadership. What is hidden within this trait that makes it so favorable and revered among people? How do you acquire leadership?
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, to lead is defined as “to guide, conduct, or to escort.” A leader can have a positive or negative influence on another person’s actions.
He is the one in control; his subservients have the obligation to submit to his rulings. Consider all the once prominent leaders of the world: Hitler, Mussolini, Mao, etc. These people had the power and authority to make their citizens act according to whatever they wanted. The world changed much under their leadership. The revolutionary spirit of World War II started under the influential speech that Hitler gave in a tavern.
Mussolini later sided with the Axis powers and overtook some Mediterranean nations. Mao was the sole instigator of communism in China. These are just some history changing events that a powerful leader is capable of doing.
Colleges heavily recruit people who show leadership. Why do colleges want to recruit these students? Recently, I received a brochure from a college in the Northeast that said 100 percent of their graduates will change the world no matter what field they studied. A follower cannot change the world. A leader is one who stands up for what he or she believes. Obviously, this college prides the presence of leadership within its student body. This leads to the conclusion that colleges want people with leadership skills.
For high school students today, skill at leadership should be the most important one they develop.
People become more effective leaders during their high school years. These four years provide students with opportunities to showcase and develop their abilities. You can join clubs and aspire to rise to a position within the club, such as a president, vice-president or secretary. These people run the club by conducting meetings and organizing activities. Because these officers run the club, the members receive a direct influence from the leading ones in the club. Another example that is often overlooked as an incipient leadership skill is the ability to participate in group discussions. When a leader introduces a new discussion topic in a student-led discussion, other people tend to either listen or participate in it.
When that person’s discussion topic is taking place, and he is imparting his or her knowledge to his peers and teacher, is a time when he is in control of the class and, therefore, exercising his or her leadership skills. He can lead the discussion to wherever he wants it to go.
In addition to participating in student lead discussions, there are leadership conferences throughout the United States that strengthen and develop young leaders. Leadership is the most important trait that a person can acquire during his or her lifetime.
One who has leadership is active and takes charge when difficult situations are present. But above all, these people have the ability to be somebody and change the world of tomorrow.
We plan to continue the local aspect of this feature, “Your Wordz,” so any area high school with willing writers / photographers and a teacher who can ‘chaperone’ their efforts is invited to contribute. Contributors might write about fads and fashions around their school or about matters catching the student body’s interest; or they could informally poll students about a national or local issue. It all makes good reading. E-mail us: yourwordz@annistonstar.com or call 235-3563.
