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When it comes to college applications, students often feel pressure to showcase traditional leadership roles like being student government president or captain of a sports team. While these titles undeniably demonstrate leadership, they are far from the only ways teens can showcase their potential. Colleges aren’t just looking for titles—they’re searching for students who demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and the ability to positively impact those around them.
Leadership is a skill, not a title. It’s about stepping up when others need help, recognizing opportunities to contribute, and making thoughtful decisions that influence others for the better. These qualities are not confined to formal roles, which is why leadership development programs are so important for teens to discover and cultivate their unique leadership abilities.
Leadership Beyond the Obvious
Many teens (and their parents) don’t realize that everyday actions can also reflect leadership. Encouraging your teen to reflect on these moments can help them uncover ways they’re already showing leadership. Here are some opportunities that don’t immediately come to mind but carry just as much weight as formal titles:
Helping a Classmate with Challenging Work - Offering to tutor a struggling friend or explaining a difficult concept to a classmate shows leadership. It demonstrates empathy, patience, and a willingness to contribute to someone else’s success.
Supporting a Friend’s Event - Whether it’s volunteering at a school dance or helping with a fundraiser, supporting a peer’s project shows teamwork, dependability, and an understanding of how to collaborate toward a shared goal.
Caring for Family Members - Tasks like grocery shopping for grandparents, babysitting siblings, or helping with household responsibilities may not seem like traditional leadership, but they show maturity, initiative, and reliability.
Assisting Teachers in Class - Helping a teacher organize materials, mentor younger students, or lead a classroom activity shows a readiness to take on responsibility and guide others.
Taking Risks and Facing Challenges - Leadership often means stepping outside your comfort zone. Whether it’s presenting a project to a large audience, trying out for a new activity, or advocating for change in school policies, taking risks reflects courage and confidence.
Why Colleges Value Leadership
Colleges value leadership because it indicates a student’s potential to contribute to their campus community. A leader doesn’t just excel individually—they inspire and support those around them. Leadership demonstrates a capacity for growth, adaptability, and the ability to handle challenges, all of which are crucial for success in higher education and beyond.
Through leadership development programs, students can learn to recognize and articulate their leadership experiences in ways that resonate with admissions committees. Programs like these help teens identify moments of growth, understand the impact of their actions, and frame these experiences in essays, interviews, and resumes.
Building a Leadership Portfolio
Encourage your teen to think creatively about their experiences. They should start tracking moments where they’ve:
Solved a problem independently or within a group.
Supported a friend, family member, or teacher in achieving a goal.
Overcome a personal challenge by taking initiative.
Collaborated on a project to improve their school or community.
Reflection is a key component of leadership development. When teens take the time to think about their actions and the results, they gain deeper insights into their strengths and areas for growth. If you have a copy of the Your Voice Matters Workbook - there are a lot of opportunities to support your teen's leadership portfolio.
How Leadership Development Programs Can Help
Leadership development programs guide teens in identifying and building their leadership skills in a structured environment. These programs help students:
Recognize non-traditional forms of leadership in their lives.
Build confidence to step into leadership roles, even in small ways.
Develop communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Learn how to articulate their leadership experiences effectively for college applications.
By joining a program like this, your teen can uncover leadership opportunities they may have overlooked and develop a growth-oriented mindset that will serve them in college and beyond.
Leadership is Everywhere
Leadership doesn’t always wear a title. It’s about making an impact, no matter how small the role may seem. By helping your teen recognize that leadership can happen anywhere—from the classroom to their own home—you empower them to showcase their unique contributions on their college applications.
Encourage your teen to think about how they can lead today, even in the simplest of ways. Leadership is not just about big moments; it’s about the many small steps that add up to a meaningful journey.
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