Lack Of Leadership Opportunities

Pluto2200

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Joined
Nov 12, 2021
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Hello all, I'm currently finishing my freshman year and am a little concerned about lacking in the leadership requirements. My academics are pretty good, and for sports I do jiu jitsu and plan on joining track sophomore year. I don't really have much leadership. Jiu jitsu isn't really a sport that offers things like captain positions (however I do plan on asking if I can volunteer to help out with the little kid classes, I don't know if that counts though) and I am not very popular at school so I don't think I could win any student senate elections or track elections, haha. I'm currently in a club for career exploration in the armed forces but that does not offer leadership positions as there are only about 7 of us in it total. I do volunteer work but again I do not know if that counts. All I could really think of is I plan on trying to join more clubs next year. I'm thinking about debating clubs, and could maybe try to run for a position in that. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
Thank about a volunteer service project armed services club could organize and promote, with you taking charge of coming up with an idea, doing the strategic and tactical planning, delegating, influencing, coordinating and executing, leading the entire effort to communicate, publicizing, making decisions, handling conflict, prioritizing, coordinating with school staff and outside organizations, etc. It could be an athletic shoe drive. It could be coordinating with a veterans’ cemetery to do a clean-up day. There are hundreds of volunteer and service opportunities out there. It just takes someone to lead the effort. Maybe your school has a teacher who coordinates school community projects. Schools enjoy it when their students are mentioned in the local news, helping out in the community. Contact your local VFW or American Legion posts, perhaps they have a community project they would welcome additional help at. Your local college might have a chapter of Student Veterans of America. Maybe they have a service project. Contact your stats, county or city (if big enough) veterans affairs office (these can have variations on the name) for opportunities. I’m sticking to a veteran theme here, because there is potential for you to learn from and interact with veterans. There are websites which list service project opportunities, just exercise your google fingers.

Leaders figure out ways to go over, around or under obstacles and create opportunity.
 
Interesting

So speaking as a gal who wasn't well liked ( at least at the time I didn't think I was) don't worry about how like you think you are. For my Senior year we voted in our captains. To my surprise my team voted me captain. I had put my name in thinking maybe I could be jv captain and help out there.

The thing was they knew I was dependable. I wasn't the nicest person on the team, or the most go getter, but need me in a race? Boom I'm there not matter how tired ( I did 2 mile then jumped in for whatever coach needed me). Durning my four years I learned that cheering goes a long way so my team knew they could depend on me cheering durning the most boring of events. In junior year I proved that I would speak up if something was wrong, that made me dependable, but not liked.

The thing is when we focus on how "liked" we are A) we suck at judging it and B) it stops us. Like right now? It's stopping you from putting out name even in the ballet. You don't have to be the most liked to do the best job. Cheer for your team mates, offer to hold blocks, share food if you have extra and give your team your all. That's all you can offer but it's what people see. People remember how you make them feel. If you make them feel like they can depend on you, then they will. Trust me I was deemed "cynical" by my coach then he gave me the sportsmanship award, two sports in a row, you're probably more liked than you think.

Jiu Jitsu is an interesting one because when I did it we didn't have captains you're right. We did have people who coach used as demonstrators and they were seen as the leaders we could turn to. It does take a bit more explanation but leading a kids class or being a demonstrator shows you can communicate well, work to make sure a goal is achieved and control a situation. So yes it would be leadership.

Lastly leadership is not defined by a fixed position. You make the position what it is. So no leadership in club? Well who's leading meetings, who helping with planning, who's scheduling events you 7 can go to. No one? Heyyyyyy I see an opportunity. If it's a teacher? Heyyyy I still see an opportunity. Leadership doesn't have to be alone either. I was co Spanish club president. I handled out side activities, they handled meetings. Still leadership.
 
Interesting

So speaking as a gal who wasn't well liked ( at least at the time I didn't think I was) don't worry about how like you think you are. For my Senior year we voted in our captains. To my surprise my team voted me captain. I had put my name in thinking maybe I could be jv captain and help out there.

The thing was they knew I was dependable. I wasn't the nicest person on the team, or the most go getter, but need me in a race? Boom I'm there not matter how tired ( I did 2 mile then jumped in for whatever coach needed me). Durning my four years I learned that cheering goes a long way so my team knew they could depend on me cheering durning the most boring of events. In junior year I proved that I would speak up if something was wrong, that made me dependable, but not liked.

The thing is when we focus on how "liked" we are A) we suck at judging it and B) it stops us. Like right now? It's stopping you from putting out name even in the ballet. You don't have to be the most liked to do the best job. Cheer for your team mates, offer to hold blocks, share food if you have extra and give your team your all. That's all you can offer but it's what people see. People remember how you make them feel. If you make them feel like they can depend on you, then they will. Trust me I was deemed "cynical" by my coach then he gave me the sportsmanship award, two sports in a row, you're probably more liked than you think.

Jiu Jitsu is an interesting one because when I did it we didn't have captains you're right. We did have people who coach used as demonstrators and they were seen as the leaders we could turn to. It does take a bit more explanation but leading a kids class or being a demonstrator shows you can communicate well, work to make sure a goal is achieved and control a situation. So yes it would be leadership.

Lastly leadership is not defined by a fixed position. You make the position what it is. So no leadership in club? Well who's leading meetings, who helping with planning, who's scheduling events you 7 can go to. No one? Heyyyyyy I see an opportunity. If it's a teacher? Heyyyy I still see an opportunity. Leadership doesn't have to be alone either. I was co Spanish club president. I handled out side activities, they handled meetings. Still leadership.
Thanks so much, I appreciate the response. I'll check with my club teacher early next year if there are any oppurtunities to help out. For jiu jitsu, while not an official title I already have a "leader" position, being 1 of only 6 people in the entire academy to achieve the rank I am currently at. I am working hard to get more positions and will take your advice, thank you!
 
Put the time in track , getting a varsity letter will help, but double down on the ju jitsu. The track should help with that as well.

Get better, get a higher belt, give back and teach the youngsters, and try to enter competitions. Competitions can show how good you are and they can show you are a competitive type.

The higher the ranking the better

I had a fair amount of insight into karate competitions but none in your sport. But it's where I’d put my effort because you already have some talent and interest.

A SA wanting you because you are good in a sport IMO will more than equal a HS leadership position.,

Edited: a good leadership opportunity for you——-organize a ju jitsu competition. Especially if you can’t find a lot of them near you.
 
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Join Boy Scouts or Venture Crew. The entire program is one big leadership lab. And it is easily understood, not to mention great opportunities, skills, etc. Highly recommend!
Gosh I wish I could. I've looked into girl scouts, but sadly I've heard from my sister that the troop near us isn't much more than selling cookies, haha
 
Put the time in track , getting a varsity letter will help, but double down on the ju jitsu. The track should help with that as well.

Get better, get a higher belt, give back and teach the youngsters, and try to enter competitions. Competitions can show how good you are and they can show you are a competitive type.

The higher the ranking the better

I had a fair amount of insight into karate competitions but none in your sport. But it's where I’d put my effort because you already have some talent and interest.

A SA wanting you because you are good in a sport IMO will more than equal a HS leadership position.,

Edited: a good leadership opportunity for you——-organize a ju jitsu competition. Especially if you can’t find a lot of them near you.
I'm most definatly doing it as much as I can, I love the sport. At the moment I go 3-4 times a week. At the moment I'm only doing the kids classes because of transportation issues, but once summer starts I plan to be doing both kids and adult classes. (Since I'm 14 but also small for my age I have full permission to attent both, in fact it's encouraged). This would probably mean abouuuut 8-12 hours a week as long as I can keep up transportation. I've only gone to two comps so far but 100% plan on doing more. Getting a high rank is actually the most difficult part. My academy is very stingy- for lack of a better word- with giving out ranks. You 100% have to earn them, it does not matter how long you have been going. For even highly skilled competetors my age I've noticed it takes a little over a year to even get your first stripe. I'm a grey-white belt right now (the kids equivalant of a blue belt) and I'm working hard. Honestly I like it being hard to earn ranks, I'm just a bit worried about how it would look on an aplication.
 
osh I wish I could. I've looked into girl scouts, but sadly I've heard from my sister that the troop near us isn't much more than selling cookies, haha
Venturing is co-ed. Boy Scouts now has boy and girl troops that follow the traditional Boy Scout program. If the Girl Scout troop is not active contact the local Boy Scout Council and ask about Venturing or a Scout Troop for girls.
 
Gosh I wish I could. I've looked into girl scouts, but sadly I've heard from my sister that the troop near us isn't much more than selling cookies, haha
Check it out yourself, or Boy Scouts or Venture Crew. Make your own opportunities. Make it better. That is what leadership is.
 
I’m reading a lot of excuses.

Maybe you do t mean to come off that way. But be cognizant that it’s coming off that way, at least to me. And frame your thoughts carefully when it matters (interviews/essays).

One of our local kids couldn’t do anything either 2yrs ago, at the beginning of Covid, when everything was shut down. When it can time for signing up and finding g vax? The elderly were struggling with the technology to find and sign up. Guess what he did? Started a program to do that FOR them.

Ended up receiving recognition from the State for his work. He later also organized transportation…leading a small crew of high schoolers.

That’s the kind of thing that stands out. Find a problem, organize and lead a solution. Despite
Existing obstacles.
 
Venturing is co-ed. Boy Scouts now has boy and girl troops that follow the traditional Boy Scout program. If the Girl Scout troop is not active contact the local Boy Scout Council and ask about Venturing or a Scout Troop for girls.
I'll definitly look into it more. Up until now I had not even heard of venture.
 
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