Teacher

Essay for Clara Luper Scholarship: What does leadership mean to you and why?

What is leadership? Many people see leadership as being a role of a person rather than a characteristic of a person. For instance, the President of the United States is put in a role of high authority and respect, however the role alone does not necessarily give the person leadership qualities. I believe, what makes leaders stand apart from others is their passion and true awareness of others’ well-being. They stand for what they believe in and represent that belief verbally or by example.

1 Timothy 4:12 states, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” This verse holds much similarity to my philosophy regarding leadership. I believe age has no bearings on the influence you can have on this world. Being a leader is a mentality or an attitude that you choose to posses. It is the unyielding desire to make an impact in others lives or make a change, for the better, in something that would otherwise remain unnoticed or unchanged.

It takes great courage, strength and above all, undying faith in Jesus Christ to follow in His footsteps and be a leader of people. It is a difficult life to stand for what you believe in. Oftentimes, standing for what you believe in means standing alone. However, this life being full of trials and tribulations makes each victory, however large or small that much more rewarding.