My Leadership Philosophy

Society places an importance on a variety of characteristics. One of the most renowned characteristics involves guiding others successfully. The ability to lead individuals is a trait that is valuable throughout one’s lifetime. As an individual continues to grow and gain the capability to lead, it becomes apparent that one will have the ability to find success within their future. As a high schooler, leadership, in my opinion, has given me the aptitude to benefit my community. Leadership is applicable to individuals who are willing to benefit those around them and find the passion to do so within one’s self. Those who fit the role of a leader are capable of inspiring those around them and take the responsibilities to become the best possible
individual that they could be. Leaders are the people who inspire generations to follow the attributes that they presented to those who knew them best. Those who are successful in leadership often find themselves living to their full potential; as these are the individuals who inspire and contribute significantly to the future of society. Leadership, as described by John C. Maxwell, is “not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” In order for an individual to become a successful leader, the things that are more materialistic do not matter; as it does not matter how many followers an individual acquires, or how many people believe the same things they do: leadership is simply about the impact that another person can have on another. Maxwell is correct in this aspect: leadership is primarily based on impact than the power that an individual can amass to have. As an individual who believes that leadership is based off of impact; it has become apparent to me that, as an individual who has influence over future generations, I could use my voice to affect them to lead better lives.
Over this past summer, I worked at a summer camp as a counselor. The children who were under my care were both inspiring and impactful on my life. As someone who had doubts about their capability to lead, the children at the summer camp inspired me to lead more effectively than prior in my lifetime. Within the first few days at this position, those who I was responsible for began to treat me with mutual respect and understand that I had authority over them. Over time, I became responsible for caring for the injuries that the children got while playing. The ability to care for others became something that I determined could end up forever impacting my life, as I became comfortable with helping those who were injured. Although I initially had doubts about my role as a leader, the position that had been acquired this summer allowed me to understand that in juxtaposition to those around me, could begin to lead others more prosperous than before. This position allowed me to further my ability to take initiative as I continued to use my newfound appreciation as a leader in my high school
career. Taking initiative has easily become something that has had a significant impact on my life.
There has been nothing that allowed me to emphatically take initiative than Model UN. I joined Model UN in my freshman year of high school in an attempt to become able to discuss things with others in a more passive manner. One aspect of Model UN that has impacted my role as a leader was a conference that I attended in my sophomore year. This delegation involved me being the sole representative from my high school in my particular committee. Initially, I was unsure about my capability of taking initiative, however, my comfort level within delegation truly shined within that committee. Although it was my first conference that I attended, I was able to take initiative within the group to make an effective resolution to the problem that was presented. By offering insight to other members, I feel that that moment truly proved to me how potential I have to be a leader. Model UN has also taught me to be an effective leader as I had the opportunity to help others understand what it is like to be a member of Model UN. At the first conference hosted by my high school, it became apparent that those who had been members for a while would need to show the incoming members what the club is like and the procedures that a member of Model UN would need to take. While conferring with the future members of the club, I took initiative in discussing what each individual must do to properly follow the
rules that the club requires. This experience allowed me to not only benefit the club, but also the community as I was able to inspire future members to join the club and understand what it is truly about. The experience that I have had, and continue to have within Model UN, allow me to become a better leader, thus creating a stronger impact on the community. Community has become one of the most poignant parts of my role in leadership.As society benefits one particular person or cause, it becomes apparent that these are the people who continue to make an impact on the world around them. No event has compared to the Make-A-Wish benefit, in which proved how much leadership depends on others; not just the person leading. This event involved communal support for a local hospital, in which all proceeds raised for this event were sent to the Make-A-Wish foundation. During this event, I ensured that all performers were well accounted for, along with helping a variety of people set up stations that children could play at. Recognizing the sense of community that these people gathered to partake in allowed me to come to the realization that leadership involves on those who are impacted severely. The realization that I had about this has truly impacted my role as a leader within high school. Those who supported all of the patients who were anxiously awaiting their turn to be granted a “wish” by the foundation helped something that is greater than themselves. A leader must be someone who prioritizes those who follow them more than their personal agendas. Woodrow Wilson, the twenty eighth president of the United States, notes upon this about his role as president. “The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.” As he expressed this, the significance of people impacting a leader shows that leadership does not impact one person: it impacts a community. A leader must express their aptitude to guide others towards a beneficial future. One must become able to take initiative during difficult situations. Leaders understand that they must help a community; not just themself. As a high schooler, I have gained these abilities and have continued to use them in order to become a better role model towards those around me. Overtime, the capability to help others will significantly help me, evident to the leadership abilities that I have gained. I believe that National Honor Society will allow me to further my passion for leading others and effectively present the opportunity for me to become a more prevalent member within my community.