Lessons Learned Through Leadership by Eva

Lessons Learned Through Leadership by Eva - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

Being a part of Marching Band has given me many pieces of feedback from being able to rely on your section to pushing through even when the heat and humidity is excruciating. The best piece of feedback I have received is that it’s okay to share my views even if they contradict others. Marching band has helped me come out of my shell and become a better leader and to take charge of my section with the advice of my directors. With this advice I’m now willing to talk with my section in ways that I wasn’t so sure about when I started. Thanks to the advice I was given, I now serve as a member of the Student Advisory Council for our marching band.

The advice about how people want to hear your ideas and to be around people who are willing to let you take charge can be applied throughout life. It can help an entrepreneur take charge to propose an idea to a company, a student to divvy out parts of a presentation to their group, and people come together to play a game or solve a puzzle. The important lesson is that being encouraged to take charge and make decisions early in life builds your ability to make tough decisions later in life. While the worries and fears may never go away, you can find yourself more confident each time you lead.

Leadership is also something you can be born with, but most of the time you have to grow into it. Many people are shy and feel self-conscious when they try to lead. Originally I felt this way, but being in marching band and having a leadership role to fill has helped me gain confidence to be a leader outside the band. By learning how to be a leader in a non-stressful environment, I will be more prepared late in life when I’m in a high-stress or high-risk environment.