My Leadership Philosophy

1. What does leadership mean to you?

I believe that leadership is not just a common list of attributes that can be easily described. It is so much more: to me, personally, leadership has so many influences in life that I could go on forever listing them. One of the Leadership qualities, that I strongly believe in is encouragement. The person who encourages you to go the extra mile, the one who cheers you on, supports you through adversity.However, Leadership does not just stop at encouragement,it continues to go on impacting all other aspects of life. For example, leadership is volunteering at a local organization or it could be just holding the door for someone. The meaning of leadership is an eternity of commitment. I have experienced
several forms of leadership throughout my life. Last school year, I was honored to be selected as a basketball team captain. As I was a team captain I had to keep my leadership of the team at a prime, to do so I kept in constant communication with all my teammates and coaches, encouraged my teammates to go the extra mile to get better by doing the extra weight lifting- the extra repetition the optional practice. Throughout my time as a team captain, I learned a lot about what true leadership meant to me. Regardless of its scope of effect,true leadership is always a significant influence and factor to society and always will be. Leadership is in literal terms, being a leader,but to be more specific, it is being and setting the example you want to follow.

2. What is character to you? Character to me is one of the most important, if not the most important characteristic of a person. If you don’t have a good character than you probably don’t have a good personality that others will cherish and appreciate. Character is never being afraid to expresses yourself, no matter if a situation is bad or good. Many people confuse character and reputation, thinking that these two concepts are the same. However, I have found that character and reputation are indeed different to differentiate character and reputation, I found this quote by the legendary basketball coach John Wooden. “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because the personal character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” This quote, I believe, is the definition of character. Character is being yourself no matter what. It is also staying true to yourself, especially when others won’t. Although keeping my true character isn’t always easy I try to keep it by upholding my principals and demonstrating my honesty and reliability. I do that by attending and participating in the committed activities such as Link Crew, Miracle League, Basketball and The Noctiluca. Overall The National Honor Society is another one of the few organizations that actually exemplifies and follows true character.

3. What is service?
Service, to me, is putting your quality time and effort into something or someone in order to help them.
It isn’t something that you should be forced to do, but something you are honored to do. Even though, at times, it may not be the “coolest” thing in the world to be doing, you know you are giving back to someone who is need. To me personally there is not a better feeling in the world than knowing you have helped someone. A few ideas that have come to mind for community service projects are those that are close to home for me. When my Grandma, a quite outgoing and active woman, was in a nursing home, she was bored because the nursing home she resided in lacked activities for the residents to engage in. I know this idea may be cliche, however, I know if we would plan an activity such as an art project in a local nursing home, as a community service project it will be not only rewarding, but heartwarming for both the students and the residents. If the Appleton North National Honor Society, would do this as a project, it would create long lasting friendships and something for the residents to look forward too, especially if we did it on a long term basis. I have participated in several community service activities such as a Vacation Bible School leader and a basketball camp counselor. However, one of my favorites would be participating in the Miracle League of the Fox Valley. The Miracle League is a baseball organization for kids ages 4-19 with physical and or mental disabilities. In the Miracle League I’m volunteer buddy. It brings me such joy, to just have the opportunity to go out and help out during the summer for about one hour in half for eight weeks. Throughout, my several community service experiences, the traits I have gained are phenomenal. I’d have to say during my week of Vacation Bible School patience was definitely gained, as I was a group leader for two very outgoing boys who always had a tendency to misbehave. However at the end of my Vacation
Bible school week I gained to continue my patience,communication, time management and defining my leadership skills. As part of the basketball camp, I strengthened my leadership qualities as well improved my communication skills. Throughout all of my community service experiences I definitely improved my leadership, character, perseverance and service.

4) To be a member of National Honor Society would be an honor. Especially since the National Honor Society is by far an outstanding organization. I would love to be a member of National Honor Society because it builds and improves character,leadership, dedication and community involvement. As far to meet the requirements, I will stand by my commitment to the entire National Honor Society and the entire Community. I will do this by attending the meetings and the community service events. By doing so in participating in Community Service Hours will not only better myself, but the entire community. To me personally nothing that is better than knowing you have put positive impact into the community. Aside from my extracurricular activities and school work, I will uphold my 3.5 grade point average with my hard work,neverendless effort and pure dedication. I will continue to make good choices and be a leader in and outside of school. Even Though it won’t be easy all the time to maintain my 3.5 grade point average I will continue to strive to become the best student and person I can be.