Works of Leadership in High School

As we teenagers begin to grow, we often find ourselves in a difficult position of trying to fit in with the others or stand out. When it comes to high school, people try so hard to fit in that it causes them emotional distress. However, there is something inside in each and everyone of our hearts that tells us to stand out. To become the person we were meant to be. How do you begin your journey of standing out? One word: leadership. 

If you ever step foot inside a high school, you may see the wonderful school themes, hallway posters being hung or even school assemblies with wonderful performances. That is thanks to high school leadership; or what is called student council. Student council consists of a huge group of students that feed the school its school spirit while making it stand out from the rest. You have your executive board and your class officers. Your executive board helps you stand out on the schoolwide level. They are in charge of the school fundraisers, assemblies and school events. On the other hand, your class officers specifically work with their designated grade level in order to craft your high school experience specifically tailored to YOU! You are able to work with others and collaborate to make each and everyone of you stand out rather than trying to fit in.

The desire to fit in is long gone and the desire to stand out is now in. How does standing out and high school leadership even correlate? Well, it is the foundation of how you stand out. Joining council can change the way you view school; you are viewed as a leader. Being a leader helps one stand out because you are leading basically a pack: a pack that heavily relies on you. Before you stand out as a leader, you must have amazing ideas first. How do you want your school to be viewed as? What are you willing to do for the student body? How will YOU make yourself and the school stand out? These questions are just the basics of being a leader in high school; the true definition of standing out. 

First, you start off as a class officer and work with your constituents to make their experience a great one. You rely on the student voice and help them craft their experience to make it as great as possible. As you gain more experience throughout your Freshman and Sophomore year, you will begin to realize you may be fit for the executive board. However, you must do more than just standing out.

Being a leader means more than just standing out, it means to make an impact. This is one of the benefits of standing out as it creates an impact you never thought was possible. It creates a type of feeling that you only feel once in a while; a sense of accomplishment, think of it as “I did that”. One way to gain that feeling is to think if you did your job. “Did I make the student body happy?” “I wonder what they will think of it.” On top of that feeling is to also enhance student voice and maintain a good reputation. In student council, you are representing the entire school and if you want to move up to the executive board, you have to find ways to help people like you. Just because you stand out does not mean others like you. How do you do such a thing? Two words: student voice. 

Constantly ask the student body their thoughts and opinions on certain events such as homecoming or an assembly. What do they want to see? This helps students feel heard and seen because they are often left out of events that are tailored to them. Secondly, be creative yet knowledgeable. What do you think the student body will like next? Do you have any theme ideas for any upcoming events? Students know you’re trying your best to make school the best place possible while maintaining transparency. 

Leadership exists outside of high school but is the key foundation for how you can become a great one as you grow up. It teaches us how to become the best in our craft while making an impact for others. Here’s a motto I live by: Do it for them. After all, you are doing it for the school.