<p>This is something that is very true. My oldest son is an introvert yet he was the captain of four different varsity teams in high school. He is a natural leader. People are drawn to his warmth, natural level headedness, and his ability to do what needs to be done, without drama.</p>
<p>People often think that introverts are antisocial and withdrawn but that is not the case. My son will say what he needs to say when he needs to say it. He is quiet, but not shy. However, he does not NEED to be around people like extroverts.</p>
<p>Introverts can be quite strong as leaders. People like my son are often called on as leaders because they are people who do things instead of talking about doing things. He inspires confidence in people and they are willing to trust his judgement. That is what makes a good leaders. A person does not need to be an extrovert to be a good leader.</p>
<p>D2 was President of the Choir, which had definite leadership duties. Not just a title. Organized activities, planned for finances, delegated various responsibilities to make sure things got done, etc. She also volunteered her time to help with the junior varsity choir class and help underclassmen with solos, and helped with the class for students who are mentally challegened, which meant participating in class with them, mentoring, guiding, etc.</p>
<p>D3 was section leader, treasurer and librarian in the band. Section Leader was not an elected position. It was appointed by the directors. It meant passing off music for the section during marching season, teaching the section drills, managing needs of the section (i.e. someone lost a glove, someone needs music, etc.) And she was Teachers Assistant for the choir class for students who are mentally challegened. She also trained young acolytes in her church.</p>
<p>I consider these leadership activities, without a doubt. Organizing a group of people towards a goal, or mentoring/coaching and providing support to others - definitely valuable skills and worthwhile activities.</p>
<p>“I would like to point out that leadership involves leading other people. Other activities, no matter how worthy they are, are not leadership. For example, practicing your musical instrument, and even playing first chair, is not leadership.”</p>
<p>Being first chair in my D’s school carries other responsibilities. Similar to section leader in marching band. You’re in charge of pass-off’s for contest music, organizing sectionals, distributing music, encouraging section members to compete in Solo & Ensemble and Region Band competitions, helping them select music, resolve issues with uniforms, etc.</p>
<p>Band leaders at my D’s school actually have to attend leadership seminars to teach them about mentoring, inspiring and coaching, having a contagious positive attitude, etc.</p>
<p>I think that leadership does not matter on college apps as much as people think. D had no leadership activities but still got accepted into a top school. She is good at organizing and planning but does not lead a bunch of people to get a project done. I know some incredible leaders who were not accepted to their #1 choice.</p>
<p>But I agree with other posters, people often tend to be leaders or followers. Which one are you, op? Which one is ur kid? But regardless of the answer, it might not matter as much as you think. A room filled with leaders can get overbearing.</p>
<p>Being first chair doesn’t necessarily imply leadership duties. If a particular first chair has leadership duties, you’d better make them clear in your college application. That’s kind of my point–leadership is leading. Even being president of a club doesn’t necessarily mean you did any actual leading, although it at least implies it.</p>
<p>What adcoms are looking for in “leadership” is how you make a difference, how you motivate others toward making a difference. It’s not a leadership title they are looking at, what they are seeking is “what did you achieve?”</p>
<p>Adcoms don’t really care if you were president of the sophomore class…they know it’s a popularity contest. What they will ask is, how did you put your popularity to use? How did you channel it?</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the input. I wish I knew how to quote.</p>
<p>Anyway, the question asked by YoHoYoHo, is my kid a leader or a follower…that is difficult to really say. If you mean in the traditional H.S. sense of being popular enough to be student council president, then no. Captain of a sports team? No again because he is not an athlete. A natural born leader that is starting a nonprofit or heading up a political movement or protesting social injustices? Definitely no. But is he a follower? That is also absolutely a no. He is a highly extroverted and outspoken individual that has never followed the crowd. And now that I think about it most “popular” student council president types tend to be followers in a sense–in terms of dress, interests, social norms, ect…yet they are considered the school leaders…so much to ponder!</p>
<p>As to the discussion of first chair/section “leader” and the associated duties and whether or not it is a leadership role, to me it sounds more like a role of responsibility/organization than true leadership. They are given a job that requires commitment, but leadership? I don’t really think so. They seem to be filling an assistant role from what I read in the numerous descriptions, but that is why I asked the question. Perhaps I am being too literal with the term?</p>
<p>I do appreciate your opinions. True leadership is obvious-you know it when you see it, but for the regular kid that has to conjure a way to fill vast blank space under the heading LEADERSHIP, this discussion may help the creative(ahem, bs) process.</p>
<p>My daughter was editor-in-chief of the school news paper (junior and senior year) and coached a special needs cheer team. What made these good fits for her were that they lined up with her passions. She loved writing and she had cheered since she was 9. I think the trick is to incorporate it into something you love.</p>
<p>zip100 – Thank You for posting that TED talk link!</p>
<p>My DH and I have rolled round and round in conversation about whether our D1 is a “leader”, because she has some leadership qualities but not others. She is good at herding cats, and always gets picked for work-teams because she will do more-than-her-share of the work uncomplainingly. However she doesn’t toot her own horn, doesn’t take credit (always says others did most of the work), and gets embarrassed when her contributions are noted. Also, she lacks “the vision thing” and prefers to be a joiner rather than step out front.</p>
<p>The Derek Sivers TED talk finally explains my D1: she is a natural “first follower”! :)</p>
<p>My D had absolutely NOTHING on her applications that would be considered “leadership” during this last admissions cycle. She has never been a captain of anything, no student government roles, no experience as a counselor or anything else like that. She was a top performer in Quiz Bowl in our state, and the top player on her school team for two years. But nothing that meets the traditional criteria. She had great college acceptance results – got in everyplace she applied, including U of Chicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd, and Carleton – with no hook. I guess what I am saying is, don’t force your kid to try to do things that you think build “leadership” credentials for his college application if it isn’t his thing. As someone said earlier, colleges would be crazy places if EVERYONE they accepted was a “leader” in the traditional sense.</p>
<p>DD, an Asian American, was awarded a leadership scholarship at her LAC. I believe it was primarily because she was Student Body President at her extremely racially diverse high school and was reportedly better at this <em>job</em> (it took that much of her time!) than all her predecessors in recent and not so recent memory. She had never participated in student government and had no idea it was so disorganized at her school. Among other things, she set up a FaceBook page for students, recruited and organized dozens of volunteers for freshman orientation, organized Homecoming activities, and I forget what else. After she graduated, she put together binders of what she did and how to do them and organized a weekend workshop for incoming officers, complete with detailed schedule, icebreaker activities, brainstorming and planning modules, etc. She in student government at her LAC and plans to continue. Her current project is improving the cafeteria food and so has been working with the food service these past months and submitted some type of proposal to them this week or last week after she returned home for the summer. Anyway, this mom considers her DD a leader.</p>
I guess this goes to the whole definition of a good leader. A good leader is one who not only knows how to lead, but how to follow, and when to do each - someone who knows how to be a effective team member.</p>
<p>I’m not surprised that GoldenWest found a difference between those with military and scouting background. One of the things we stress in Girl Scouts is the difference between community service and leadership - both wonderful things, but very different. The kid who runs yet another food drive is involved in community service. The one who comes up with an idea for a new event to raise awareness about the need for the food pantry, and jump starts a new program is showing leadership. When she takes sustainability into account, making sure someone else is available to take over when she graduates, so it won’t be a one-off event, that’s showing even more leadership.</p>
<p>Leadership can shine through in school activities, but it’s more than being a team captain or officer - it’s what they do with the position. It may or may not shine through in the essays, but I suspect the good leaders don’t write about it there. Instead, it shines through in their recommendations.</p>
<p>It’s a myth that you have to show leadership to get into a good college. What you need to show is excellence outside the classroom. There are some pursuits that are fundamentally solitary, like drawing. If you are a superb artist, that’s just as valuable as founding some community service group.</p>
<p>Now, in some pursuits, like student government, there is no excellence without leadership. But you’ll be fine in this department as long as you find what you are good at and do it at the highest level you are capable of.</p>
<p>Yes, but these are places which prioritize intellectualism more than ivy league colleges (even though the ivies have their share of brainpower.)</p>