‘Before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is about growing others.’ Jack Welch
This topic is dear to me. I got close to tears, just writing about it. I have had the opportunity to serve as a student leader, as well as to work with and observe other student leaders. I recognise that every school is organised differently, so the expectations from and efficacy of student leadership may differ from one to another.
For me, leadership first happens in and to a person, before he or she transfers it to others. It takes a level of personal mastery to accomplish certain things in one’s life and to effectively show others how to. Can I also mention that working with humans (who have individual wills and minds) is not a walk in the park? Oh, I already did.
I am wrapping up my journey as an undergraduate and I have been doing some reflection. In the process of serving my university community in a number of capacities, I observed many things. This past month, a number of hand-overs/inaugurations occurred in student associations in my school. It brought home, for me, the reality that no office is forever and that there is some urgency attached to value addition (which is the essence of every office). Furthermore, capable succession and sustainability of initiatives should be the goal of true leaders; whether they are students, politicians or corporate executives.
It is easy for people to dismiss student leadership opportunities as ‘unnecessary and not worth much after school, anyway.’ On the other extreme are those who ‘abuse’ the availability of offices, by lobbying their way in or even blindly taking on more than they can competently do. Who is a student leader? He or she attends a school, has mastered himself or herself (in terms of awareness and grooming of: personality, strengths, weaknesses, habits, triggers) to an appreciable extent – I won’t say perfectly because the journey is continuous – and is able to achieve personal success in some areas of life (usually academics, technical skill and character). This success attracts the person’s peers or superiors, and he or she is then given a platform to inspire others.
Frankly, student leadership has its highs and lows. There are times when the imposter syndrome is super palpable, and other days when you think everything is good or that you are in charge. While I understand that students operate in a context (like school officials with different temperaments and perspectives, policies that cover different areas within the scope of the particular school), the focus of this article is the student and what is within his or her control.
You can’t control everyone else; least likely a superior. If there is something you must understand, it is that there is need for healthy boundaries – even in service or leadership. These are needed for your sanity and effectiveness. Too many people leave office as broken, bitter people and (maybe) worse off in the very areas of strength that brought them in. Stay with me, a few more articles, and we will look at some aspects as well as remedies.
Student leadership is a key part of the school experience, but how well it has been utilised, as well as its impact on the leader and led, are entirely different ball games.
_____________________ Gbemisola Oluwasina is also known as Elegant Inker. She is committed to helping (personal, business, corporate) brands accelerate their visibility, influence and profit through writing services and coaching. These areas of service and coaching range from: creative writing, content writing, editing and proofreading, ghost writing, content strategy consultation, transcription to copy writing. She has worked with 10+ brands, authors and writers. She has had her poems and articles published in magazines, too. Gbemisola is blessed with a voice that enriches what she says. She has honoured 20+ virtual speaking invitations from 2020 till date. These engagements covered topics around: writing, content creation, online business, social media positioning, public speaking, (self) leadership, the Christian faith and albinism. She looks forward to more of these, as well as to features in the media and TED(X). Gbemisola is a student of International Relations at Covenant University who has had the privilege of occupying different leadership offices. She is a recipient of numerous certificates and awards. She is n ardent believer that individuals are responsible for the achievement of organisational and national goals. She is a lover of Abba and of the progress of others. She likes to sing, learn other languages and make beaded articles. She Ioves the colours, purple and lemon. Email: gbemisolaoluwasina@gmail.com YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn: Gbemisola Oluwasina Telegram channel, Instagram and Facebook pages: Elegant Inker.
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