Senior Leadership Scholarship Essay 37

Leadership isn’t just an “I’ll order you around” position, it’s stepping up and showing why you’re a leader. It isn’t just about yelling out orders, it’s about showing up and helping out, not standing and judging people. Being a leader means listening to others as well, listening to other peoples entail. Anyone can say “I’m a leader” but it takes commitment and bravery. You have to show traits of being willing to learn and hear others out.

I have been playing tennis and soccer all four years of my high school. Tennis during fall and soccer in the spring. I had moments where I have stepped up to welcome and help the new athletes. Encouraging them, joining something new creates fear and I wanted the tennis girls to feel welcomed. I understand that fear because I wish I had someone who stuck by me to encourage me. Being the eldest daughter in an immigrant household, I had no one to help me and show me the ways and I want to be that person for other people.

Tennis is my favorite sport and I wanted others to see the beauty in it. I remember the first time holding my racket freshman year, I was so terrified. Years later, I found myself encouraging a nervous freshman who is in the same position I was once at. That is leadership stepping up when someone else needs a hand. I wanted people to see the world of tennis not just winning but actually having fun while playing. I remember her losing confidence in the sport since she was new to it and had never played before. Tennis is a sport that takes a lot of time and practice learning. I remember I saw the frustration after seeing her miss another serve so during practice I would take extra time out to help her with the techniques. We would play back and forth until she felt comfortable.

During soccer practice or conditioning a lot of people don’t like to start workouts, me being one of them. I enjoy playing soccer but I know I’m not the best so sometimes I feel like it isnt my place to guide people. When there isn’t anyone to guide, you have to step up. I didn’t like to step up with soccer but I tried. I could guide the workouts sometimes, when no one was willing too. I know I’m not the fastest, the tallest, I’m not really good with techniques but I enjoy kicking a ball around. I enjoy playing soccer. I’m happy to help someone build confidence to go out there and play with a smile on their face.

I’m more than just an athlete, I have participated in: Business Finance Institution (BFI), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Distributive Education Club Of America (DECA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and Leadership 20/20. I am also the Vice President of my high school class. I volunteer at my school when harvests take place. In each of these clubs I feel as if I have shown leadership. I have stood up and reached out, asked questions, guided people, and helped students join. In the future I hope I really encouraged people and gave them confidence. I feel like I’m doing that right now as well. Also in the future I want to continue doing this but also not hesitate to step up. I know the older I get the more confidence I will gain. I want to step up more because I know how life is in the future.