Royals 13

Leadership is defined as inspiring and motivating others to work towards a common goal. This requires more than just a clear vision of your goal, it also requires a way to communicate that vision in a way that resonates with others and motivates them to work with you toward that vision. From being a leader in high school one key trait that I’ve learned is that I can understand and identify my strengths and weaknesses which have better help me navigate complex situations, and make thoughtful and calculated decisions.

High school has helped me develop and shape my leadership skills. In high school I have been involved in Student Council, Celebrating Diversity Club, GSA, Yearbook, and 20/20 leadership. I represent the senior class in the Student Council, I also am the Vice President of the Diversity Club. Being a part of the student council, and representing the student body, has been a privilege of mine. While being on the council I have helped set up school events, and pep rallies and my personal favorite helped coordinate the blood drive. Helping with these events is rewarding, but it also has its difficulties. Being on the council means working with a bunch of your peers, and different opinions. Council has taught me how to look at others’ perspectives and persevere through difficulty. Student Council allowed me to make the best out of my high school experience and how to become a leader which I will forever be grateful for.

Celebrating Diversity Club is an organization that I helped build from the ground up. My friends and I talked about how our school needed a way to celebrate differences within our community and school. We wanted our organization to be a safe space for people that didn’t always feel the most comfortable talking about their experiences. I know what it’s like not always feeling the most comfortable as I am gay. I am proud to say that in our first year, we had over 60 sign-ups, which was to expand our board. We are now in our second year of running this organization, and I have never felt more grateful to be a founding member and a part of this organization with so many great people. Being a leader of this organization has helped me grow so much as an individual. I have learned to see the view of world through others’ eyes, and have learned that I am not the only one to go through the experiences that I have gone through. I am proud to say as a leader of this club that we have made a safe space for people that aren’t always comfortable. Being one of the leaders of this club will forever impact me, and I hope that I will be able to find an organization like this during my post-secondary education adventure.

Gay-Straight Alliance is a club that I just sit in on. Being a part of the LGBTQ community this club has a place in my heart. I have connected to so many individuals like myself and made me realize that even though I am from a small community it is okay to live true to myself. My peers in this club have opened my eyes tremendously and I will forever hold thanks to this club.

20/20 Leadership is an out-of-school organization that helps students make a difference and put themselves out there more. This organization is what opened my eyes and made me want to be a leader. I have made so many friends and connections from other schools that have helped me grow, and get opinions on what to do next in clubs and organizations that I am in. Leaning on others for their opinions hasn’t always been the easiest thing for me, but this organization opened my eyes and made me comfortable with doing so. Others’ opinions are so important to succeed, and I am so grateful that through this organization I have learned to do that.

My experiences of high school leadership have inspired me to continue my education at the University of Kansas with a major in Political Science, and a double minor in Social Justice in the US, and Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Leadership has inspired me to go into law because I want to be able to help people with complex issues. Law is a very complicated thing and I want to help people understand their situation more simply. I want to advocate for the people that I am going to represent, and my experience in leadership I think has given me the voice to do so. I feel like my leadership experience will be able to help manage teams because most lawyers work in a firm or a corporate office. In a career in law, you have to be able to communicate, make hard decisions, and think strategically, which you have to do as a leader. I am confident with my choice to go into law, and being a high school leader has helped me make that decision, and has made me excited for the future.

With all that being said, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my essay and I hope that you consider me for this awesome opportunity and scholarship.