Leadership Positions

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hello, I am a junior right now and am involved in many extracurriculars like tennis, academic decathlon, math club tutoring, nhs, csf. I know these all sound stereotypical but anyways.

Since I moved schools this year, it is hard for me to get leadership positions since most are given out at the end of the year before. It seems really inconvenient to me because since I came so late, it’ll be hard to get a position. At my old school, I was a yearbook editor and NHS Sophomore Representative. I was set to be Academic Decathlon captain and NHS president there but unfortunately…

At my new school, I KNOW I can be a great leader. I have so many ideas on how to improve my school like introducing a school pageant, physics boat race, organizing more spirit weeks, choosing better venues for dances and including a Sadies or Winter Formal etc… But I’m not in ASB and it’s not like I can get a major position in 1 year. Also, since I have all these ideas, I sorta don’t wanna just give the ideas to ASB, especially the ASB president-to-be because she’s kinda my competition in school. I want credit for my ideas to improve the school so colleges can recognize me… haha… is that selfish?

And I’m not in yearbook this year either, although I have MANY ideas like Senior Buddy and Left Behind pictures, a better theme. Once again, how can I get credit for leading a class without being in the class? If you wonder, the reason I’m not in either class is because I focused my schedule for 11th and 12th grade to have 6 AP classes, no electives.

I want to be NHS president too because I know I can improve the club a lot and have experience but I don’t think I can jump so high after not being able to get any positions this year. :frowning: I noticed members quit the club easily and are not getting enough reminders of events and I can easily help with that. Also, leadership positions are voter-based, which kinda irks me. My old school did interviews, and I think I had a better chance with those because voting becomes a popularity contest and I don’t have many friends or know many people…

Same for Academic Decathlon, people quit the team quickly and there are barely any meetings. I know fun games to help the team reinforce memory and bond.

Do you guys have any suggestions on what I can do? I’m hoping I can get some kind of leadership or recognition for my help to school but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :slight_smile:

2

So it sounds like you want to be appointed a leader in yearbook but you don’t want to take yearbook as an elective because it isn’t very important to you, and

it sounds like you want to be appointed a student government leader without making any valuable contributions before you are appointed.

So what do you actually want to do to become a leader? It seems like the leaders are drawn from the ranks of the enthusiastic participants, but you want to skip the participant stage at your new school.

I would identify an activity or two that you really are interested in and are able to prioritize being an active participant. If that leads to a leadership role, than that is great. You don’t need to have a certain job title to demonstrate leadership ability.

3

Oh I never saw it that way. I mean I would join yearbook but it just wouldn’t fit in my schedule if I was gonna take 6 AP classes. I will dedicate time to NHS and Academic Decathlon. However, idk how to show that I demonstrated leadership if I didnt get a title… like what do I say haha

4

It sounds like you want the leadership credit for college apps. One of my kids got in everyplace she applied, including UChicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd, and Carleton with no leadership titles at all. It isn’t about the titles at all. For example, my kid was the top quiz bowl performer on her HS team. She had awards to show it. That is a kind of leadership. But she wasn’t team captain.

5

Hm… I see what you mean. Thanks! I’ll try to be like that for acadeca.
But also, I just wanna suggest my ideas so those programs can strengthen. I mean, it isn’t fun to see an uninvolved nhs or acadeca and lack of school events. Thats why Id prefer colleges to see me as a leader if I can help those clubs in any way. We’ll see

6

You should consider starting your own club! Whether it be a community service club or something else, it’s a great way to put yourself out there and demonstrate leadership!! I don’t really know what your interests are or what you want to major in, but you should DM me if you want some club ideas.