Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an...

Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities? Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

He stopped. Why’d he stop? The murmuring crowd buzzed expectantly, waiting for him to continue. I glanced at my friend and noticed the sweat beading on his face as he swayed nervously behind the podium. It didn’t make sense. I had just seen him practicing his campaign speech to perfection. Then it clicked: he wasn’t just nervous, he was terrified. Terrified of public speaking. As an extrovert who knew exactly how talented my friend was, seeing him struggle on that stage inspired me to affect change. A few texts to my future co-founders later and SPEAK was officially born. Since then, my formal responsibilities as Executive Director have grown exponentially: outreach, managing finances, hosting workshops, meeting with school administrations, planning for the future, etc. Despite the countless hours I’ve spent on these tasks, however, I believe my informal responsibilities are what truly makes SPEAK special. Whether I’m checking in with volunteers to ensure that all 94 of them are enjoying their roles or interacting with students and parents before and after workshops, the connections and culture I’ve helped foster have been the true catalysts of the organization’s growth. As a result, SPEAK has currently impacted almost 1,100 students in 27 cities and 4 countries. To do so, we have partnered with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and “I’m Determined” alongside LA United District and Pittsburgh Public Schools to provide our workshops for hundreds of underrepresented students. Yet, these numbers only show half of SPEAK’s impact - many of our students have become community leaders, activists for meaningful causes, and founders of their own initiatives. SPEAK has not only helped kids overcome their fears of public speaking, but empowered them with confidence in their voice and actions. Furthermore, my personal experience with SPEAK has also allowed me to flourish as a leader and communicator as student body president, undersecretary general for MUN, and captain of the tennis team. However, the most valuable lesson that SPEAK has taught me is that leadership isn't about the title, but supporting those around me to achieve a goal that would be impossible alone.