Hi guys! So I’m a rising senior, and I’ve dedicated the past three years of my life to a single club, and I’ve done really well with regards to that club (national awards, etc). However, the adult who’s sponsoring the club really has a grudge against me, and I didn’t get an officer position at all. I thought it was kind of unfair because I’ve spent so much time and energy on the club, and if it were by elections, I would have probably gotten at least vice president. I don’t know what to do because I spent so much time on that club that I didn’t focus on any other clubs. How will colleges sense my leadership without a leadership position? Will they use that against me? Thank you!!
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sorry for doing this but i’m so worried 
Stop worrying. Leadership is about a lot more than being elected to an ‘officer’ position. It’s about what you’ve accomplished in that area. You can be a leader by showing initiative, creativity, motivating and persuading others inside and outside the organization, etc… If you have garnered national awards in your area of interest, then I would imagine that you have indeed demonstrated leadership above and beyond that expected of a mere club president. And yes, college admissions people are smart enough to see it.
As usual, @N’s Mom is right on with this. It’s impossible to be as heavily involved in an activity as you claim to have been without having a leadership role to some extent, official or otherwise. This is something that you can easily bring out in essays as well.
Colleges want to know what you’ve been doing with your life, what skills you’ve acquired, what you’re passionate about, and they want to extrapolate this to what you may do with your time and skills when you arrive on campus. Are you in a position to start or lead a club or similar group at the college level in this activity, or extrapolate on your experience and apply it to another activity at the college level?
You are getting good feedback.
I would add that if you are not the sponsor’s fav person, it is usually worth attempting to rebus that fence if you can, even when the issue was not your fault.
Additionally, if you tried for a leadership position and did not get it, that could demonstrate a willingness to take risks and ability to deal with failure. Those traits are highly valued.