A Student Leader’s Role in Their Community
Pride, passion, influence, responsibility, inspiration and collaboration.
Throughout my life, I have acquired and learned the value of these six pillars of leadership. They have continually been an asset to my drive and excitement of being a successful leader and once more, are the most valuable to me. Additionally, these pillars as well as many others, are significant to the meaning of the role of student leaders serving in their community.
These characteristics of leadership allow for structure and a fixed purpose in service and are a way to hold ourselves and other peer leaders accountable. I believe that to fulfill the needs of a community, the “why” must be present to the leaders. Understanding and recognizing the importance of these pillars is a crucial step in doing that. Similarly, these specific needs cannot be effectively fulfilled if student leaders are not being held and holding others accountable to their potential; we get the most out of service when we put one hundred percent into it.
Given this opportunity, it is our goal to create an overwhelming sense of culture and inclusion.
Coming out of a hectic time of social distancing, quarantining, and online learning, it is now more important than ever to promote a positive and inclusive culture. The pandemic forced all of us, kids, and adults alike, to adjust to a new way of life and for some, this also meant taking a toll on mental health. The anxiety, fear, and worry of being cut off from in-person contact, loved ones’ health, and how they were going to navigate an online world were present during this time.
The social connection people shared was lost as we began to get used to living in our own world, 6-feet apart from everyone else. We were soon thrown back into the fast-paced reality of an in-person world, except some of us weren’t ready for the switch back. The pandemic affected us all in some way, most of us negatively. However, these impacts didn’t just go away when we went back to ‘normal’. In fact, the decline in mental health from the pandemic is still being seen, which is why we need to come together and support each other through this confusing and complicated time.
Everyone deserves to know that they are in, and can be a part of a positive, supportive, and inclusive culture in which their mental and social well-being is cared for. It is our job as student leaders to withhold and support this balance; communities need to hold each other up, as we all take life one step at a time, together.
This year, Highlands Ranch High School has been given the chance to bring communities together in a positive way through the Relay for Life fundraising event, established by the American Cancer Society (ACS). This event highlights the celebration, honoring, and remembering of those who have been impacted by cancer; cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, volunteers, and community members are invited to participate. The funds raised through this event directly support life-changing research, around-the-clock support for cancer patients, and access to many more critical resources. I encourage you to visit the link below to gather more information or to get involved in this powerful event!
After taking on a profound event, student leaders and councils before, during, and after the process tend to reflect on the “why.” I have previously mentioned this idea, yet I want to further expand on it. This one word, powerful alone, presents itself as a reflection piece when considering running effective systems and serving others. Leaders must know and understand the purpose of everything they do because, with no purpose, there is no passion.
The “why” for taking on Relay for Life, for example, is simple. We are striving to fulfill the needs of our community, bring people together, celebrate those with cancer and those who care for cancer patients, and continually support the demands being met to defeat cancer. Knowing our why helps us, as well as participants, get the most out of the whole experience; it serves as motivation.
Student leaders cannot efficiently serve themselves and the community without drive, motivation, and purpose, which are all supported by the six pillars leaders associate themselves with. Leaders must take pride in their community, have passion for the cause they are standing behind, be a positive influence on those around them, take responsibility for their actions and step up to the plate, inspire and be inspired by their community, and finally, student leaders must work together to create a strong legacy that people will remember.
Link to Douglas County Schools Relay for Life
Relay For Life Information and Sign Up: https://relayforlife.org/hrhsco
Kat Tomlin is currently a junior at Highlands Ranch High School. She serves as a Class Representative at HRHS and as a CHSAA State Representative. Through her role as a CHSAA State Representative, Kat represents students across Colorado. Beyond high school, Kat looks forward to majoring in early childhood education, with a minor in psychology. She also hopes to run track at the Division II level.
