Displaying Leadership/Initiative/Teamwork

ParkCore

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
Messages
43
Hello all,

I know some of you have read my previous posts about sports, and considering I'm doing individual sport(s) (wrestling and possibly track), I need to display some sort of teamwork/leadership. Here are my thoughts:

I'm pretty good at programming and I enjoy it highly. Why not create a club at the local grade school which teaches younger kids the importance of technology and being able to code? I'd be leading the club and teaching the kids about programming. I feel as though this would show initiative, leadership, and many other traits. I'm not sure, though. I was hoping for some input from you guys as to what you think of this one.

My other idea is teaching younger kids at this same school how to play guitar or piano. I taught myself both and have been playing for years now. I could also possibly lead and teach the youth group at the church which is associated with the school (catholic school).

On top of these two/three, I plan on being involved in JSA, NHS, History Club, and French Club. I'm also an ambassador for my school, part of the student organization committee, and am involved with the Anthony Munoz Foundation.

I know some of you will tell me to take leadership roles in these, and I'm trying. The problem is, being such a family run school, most of those roles are taken by family members of the staff. This isn't an excuse, by any means. I plan on taking any leadership role I can in the clubs I'm involved in.

Also, I create a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project every year. I created it last year and plan on doing it every year. I also got in contact with my local VFW and plan on taking any leadership opportunity I can there.

What are your thoughts? Anything you would critique? I appreciate any input give!

Keep in mind, I don't do all of this stuff for the Academy. I know someone will tell me not to checkbox, and once again, I do all of these things because I enjoy the things I'm involved in.
 
I will preface this by saying that I am just a candidate for the class of 2020, so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

I think your ideas for the clubs are pretty solid, but you need to be able to get permission at the schools. This means that you need to really sell your program to the administration. So before you go in there and ask them to start a club and teach them "about programming" really think about the kind of curriculum/activities you will be doing. If you have a prepared document that defines the essence of your club, its objectives and goals, and how you plan to meet those objectives/goals (while being able to provide specifics if needed) then I would say the administration is more likely to be up for it. Another alternative you could look into is math/science tutoring at the local school. This is good in and of itself, but could also serve as a foundation for your interactions with the school. The admin would probably be more willing to let you start a club if you have already shown a commitment to the student body in STEM related subjects.

I was going to say the whole "do it only because you're passionate about it, etc" thing, but then I read your last line lol. Instead I am just going to reiterate the concept that you already seem to know: find what you're passionate in, and become a leader in it. For example, if you want to lead the youth group then you should strive to do that. You do not need to seek Service Academy Forum's approval (though I understand your thought process; I've done the same thing before). Do what you like, be a leader in it, and hope for the best. Don't plan your activities around getting into a specific school because if you don't get into it, then you may feel disappointed with the way you spent your high school years.

So if you take anything from what I just said in this 2am post lol, it is that you should do whatever you want, and find leadership in that. It is totally natural to be seeking advice and suggestions on what makes you more "competitive" but in all honesty, you will have a lot more fun and happiness in high school if you just follow your interests.
 
I'd also like to correct your statement regarding wrestling being an individual sport. Wrestling is unique in that it is both an individual sport AND a team sport. Yes, you wrestle on the mat as an individual and there is an individual state tournament but there is also Team dual scoring and a Team dual state tournament. In fact I'd argue there are few team sports that truly stress "team" the way wrestling does. For example a wrestler often will be asked to move up a weight class to give better match-ups for the team. This jeopardizes the individual goal (an individual win) for the benefit of the team goal (A dual win). Having those conflicting goals emphasizes the importance of team over individual (The team comes first).... Try to become a captain of the wrestling TEAM as that will certainly add points to your resume for teamwork and leadership.....
 
I say go for all of these things for which you have a passion! STick to them.

My only real problem is that you waited until you are a rising senior to begin any of them.

And, again, we are in the last third of JULY, and you are still in the "let's talk about it on an anonymous forum" phase.
 
@fencersmother I'm a rising junior, not senior.. I've been working on this since freshman year.. Look back at my profile.

@Rocko You're correct on that. I never really thought about it that way. I suppose I viewed it as the Academy would figure it in as an individual sport. Thanks for the input!

@7ez Thanks for your reply! I appreciate the 2 am post.
 
OK, I thought you were a rising senior. Well, you have some time then. But do not delay.
 
I'd also like to correct your statement regarding wrestling being an individual sport. Wrestling is unique in that it is both an individual sport AND a team sport. Yes, you wrestle on the mat as an individual and there is an individual state tournament but there is also Team dual scoring and a Team dual state tournament. In fact I'd argue there are few team sports that truly stress "team" the way wrestling does. For example a wrestler often will be asked to move up a weight class to give better match-ups for the team. This jeopardizes the individual goal (an individual win) for the benefit of the team goal (A dual win). Having those conflicting goals emphasizes the importance of team over individual (The team comes first).... Try to become a captain of the wrestling TEAM as that will certainly add points to your resume for teamwork and leadership.....

There is also another team aspect to wrestling that many people miss until you explain it. You compete with other wrestlers on the team for the starting spot in a particular weight class, most often in the form of wrestle offs (direct competition). However, it is in your best interests as an individual competitor to make those you are wrestling against for the starting spot better which means you are actively helping a teammate who is also an opponent get better which makes it more difficult for you to start. There is no other sport in which this happens. For example, if your drill partner shoots a low single incorrectly, it is in your overall best interest to correct it. Why? Because if not, you will become accustomed to defending a poor technique that you will never see against almost any other well coached opponent. If you don't help him correct it, you will develop a false sense of confidence and security in yourself. However, if you help your drill partner to correct it and now he has become a much bigger threat to take your starting spot. But it helps YOU become better because now you have to actively fight a better wrestler day in and day out. This doesn't happen in football, baseball, track, golf, swimming, hockey, basketball, etc. Wrestling, judo/bjj, and to a lesser degree boxing. That is it. It is one of only a few sports that directly correlates to the military squadron. You are trying to outscore your fellow airmen in many things, but are also trying to help them be better every step of the way.
 
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