Leadership Application Essay Examples

In a society focused largely on material possessions, power, and self serving motives, the wholesome qualities of selflessness, compassion, responsibility, and integrity are often concealed under the oppressive reign of greed and deceit. With such a bleak outlook, many people have given up hope, simply accepting this as an unchangeable and inevitable reality. However, as the work of Clayton and MaryAnn Mathile has shown, cooperative leadership coupled with benevolent service offers an optimistic approach to combat these destructive behaviors and attitudes. Likewise, I demonstrate a similar passion for revitalizing and unifying this world marred by division, devoting much of my time, talents, and skills to service. Ultimately, these experiences

Some of the most impactful high school experiences have been through Key Club, an international student-led organization which provides its members with opportunities to serve, build character, and develop leadership. Through holding leadership positions as both secretary and president and planning several large-scale service projects, I have learned the immense importance of time management and cooperation along side my fellow Key Clubbers. Furthermore, Key Club has given me the opportunity to develop deeper connections with other service-minded members of my community through partnership with several organizations such as Hammer and Nails (a Habitat for Humanity- like charity in Canton, Ohio), the Stark County Humane Society, and the Akron Children’s Hospital. Seeing the vast impacts of these acts of service has inspired me to continue leading, guiding, and working alongside my fellow Key Clubbers to fulfill our promise to transform the world through inclusive service-minded

For the past three summers I have served as a camp counselor at Camp Friendship in Gahanna, Ohio, offering special needs adults an inclusive summer camp experience they were unable to have as children. Through assisting my camper in some of the most ordinary, day-to-day tasks, I gained invaluable understanding of what pure selfless service means at the most raw level. I had to adapt to my camper’s lifestyle, leaving comfort behind and stepping into the messiness and uncertainty of true compassion. Through the struggles of communication and learning each other's mannerisms, the frustration of strangerhood soon blossomed into effortless friendship. In acknowledging my camper’s needs as greater than my own, a new sense of self-sacrificing love became a vital part of our relationship. Through seeing the world through the eyes of my camper, my understanding of service-based leadership was transformed, reflecting a major transition in my life. Where stubbornness once marred my disposition, openness and patience prevailed. Where selfishness once ruled over me, I became selflessly focused on the needs of others. Where frustration once blurred my thoughts, compassionate understanding healed my