Thoughts on leadership

My seventeen-year-old son came home a couple of weeks ago and quietly, but proudly, told me that he had been selected to head his school’s yearbook committee.

My son is a fairly quiet young man. He couldn’t care less about being Mr. Cool. He is a really nice guy, but doesn’t exude charisma or flair. Yet, his peers unanimously chose him to lead this project after months of floundering. Why?

To make a long story short, for two reasons: Responsibility and conscientiousness. More than the other committee members, he assumed responsibility and was conscientious about completing any task he had taken on. Consequently, his fellow committee members had confidence in him and his ability to lead them as they set out to finish the job.

Almost all colleges and grad programs admire leadership. Many young people have few opportunities to manage or lead. Volunteer settings, however, provide a great venue for demonstrating leadership skills. If you want to make the most of a volunteer commitment from an admissions perspective, first, assume responsibility. Second, conscientiously complete the tasks you take on. The leadership roles will inevitably follow.