Senior Essay 25

As a senior, I can honestly say that I have grown a lot as a leader. When I was a freshman coming into high school, I did not know I could be a leader, it was always scary. Over the past 4 years in high school through sports, clubs, and many opportunities, I learned about how important leadership is. It’s not about just being in charge and bossing people around. It’s about acting and doing stuff and stepping up when it is needed. Helping others and just setting a good example is what being a leader means to me.

One of the biggest ways I have shown leadership in high school is through sports. Being a team captain for 3 sports taught me a lot about responsibility. I had to make sure my teammates were motivated and worked hard. No matter if we were losing or not playing as hard as we could I made sure to push them in their best qualities. I learned how to communicate throughout the team without criticizing them or making them feel like what they did could not be improved. If any of my teammates were down or not in a good mood, I would try to uplift them and let them know that they are doing good. I also had to lead by example. I showed up on time and worked hard and showed my dedication. I have kept a positive attitude through it all because I have seen that people follow more of what you do than what you say.

Another way I have demonstrated leadership by helping start a bible study club at my school and making it official. At first it was something other students started but they had left and graduated. It was something nice we thought would motivate people. It was a safe space where nobody would judge you and you can talk about your faith. We went through so many steps and patience with it being denied 2 years in a row. Finally, we have it every Wednesday right after school. Students have that safe space and they talk and grow together as a whole. Starting from the bottom to reaching my goal pushed me in being a leader and helped guide me even when things were not going my way I never gave up.
I also started a pep club at my high school. School spirit is always something our school has needed. It is important to get everyone involved, even the students that don’t play in sports. We wanted our athletes and teams to feel supported. With the help of many students, we organized excitement at our school events. This experience also taught me how to work with different people and how to adjust to different ideas. Leadership is about teamwork and making sure everyone around you feels included

In the future, I hope to continue to demonstrate leadership by staying involved in the community and even on college campus. I plan to show my leadership through clubs, possibly sports, and organizations. I want to be someone people can keep looking up too. I also hope to use my voice and stand up for the things that are right. I want to support those who don’t feel confident enough to speak up. Leadership will never end, not even after high school.

Overall, my journey through high school has made me a stronger and more confident leader. Though starting clubs, getting involved in sports, supporting my teammates, I have learned more that leadership is about commitment and courage. I am very proud of how far I have come and I am excited to keep growing as a leader in the future.