Senior Leadership Scholarship Essay 19

Leadership was a role I never saw for myself; it was a scary cookie-cutter role I thought didn’t suit me. That’s why throughout elementary, middle, and part of high school, I didn’t even think about approaching it. However, the summer before my junior year, I took a leap of faith, applying for a summer internship that later blossomed into an opportunity to do things I never thought of, such as presenting in front of hundreds of people, and ultimately winning third place at a pitch competition with nearly a hundred entries. This in itself might not seem like a demonstration of leadership, but to me, it was the start of a chain reaction that changed my perspective on leadership.

Apart from my summer internship, I became involved at school, such as joining the student council my senior year, where I met so many new people and made important decisions concerning my cohort. I also achieved my first leadership position, which was becoming vice president of the garden club, where I received the chance to pursue something I was passionate about while also collaborating with students in my school. I unexpectedly became vice president and since then have helped grow it into a thirty-member club from the ten-ish members we had when we first joined. My latest leadership pursuit has been becoming the president of the National Honor Society, which has been one of the highlights of my senior year.

Academically and extracurricularly, I managed to collect my share of leadership roles as well as change my perspective from the cookie-cutter leadership role to a role with a diverse approach by every person. However, I didn’t just break out of my shell within my school walls; it happened outside too. I started getting more involved in places that mattered to me, such as my church, where I became a nursery Sunday school teacher and later became involved with the media team. As previously mentioned, I completed summer internships with organizations such as KC Pet Project and Kansas City Parks and Recreation, where I learned valuable skills and gained new perspectives while overcoming struggles with leadership and public speaking, one of my previous greatest fears.

However, this has just been my experience during high school; once I graduate, my care or desire to pursue more leadership roles and make an impact won’t just disappear, nor will the opportunities disappear. Whether it be through more volunteer and advocate work helping organizations devoted to causes I am passionate about, such as local pet shelters, or becoming part of student government during college. I will continue to pursue leadership. College is my next step and will open many doors, especially through clubs and mentoring opportunities that my top college choice, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, makes it a priority. One of the things I look forward to is becoming a mentee in their program and coming back as an upperclassman to become a mentor for students like me, whether it be in the same major, career goal, or being a Hispanic first-generation student as I will be.

The ways I became involved in leadership both academically and in my community have had a profound impact on how I grew as a person. The lessons I learned aren’t ones I want to keep to myself; I know how many students, peers, and kids have the same perspective as me that leadership isn’t for them. With this in mind, I want to help others come to the same realization as well as want to take on these roles just like I once did.