Leadership is not just about being in charge; it’s about helping others, making good choices, and setting a good example. A good leader listens, encourages others, and works hard to reach their goals. Even if it’s in school, sports, or for your community, leadership can make a big difference.

A lot of people think leadership students just get to be the boss. They think we make all the rules and never do hard work. People also think leadership class is about having fun with friends and planning fun activities instead of doing real work. But leadership isn’t what people usually think it is. This is what the leadership teacher, Mr. Mark Whitley, said, “The leadership class plans Homecoming and Prom. They are in charge of the spirit weeks and pep rallies. They also work with the other schools in the City of Manassas- they read to students, plan a kindness day for Round Elementary, and help with the gardens at Baldwin and Metz. They decorate OHS and support other clubs if they need our help. One of our biggest events is the Unified Prom.”

The leadership class actually teaches us a lot more than people think. We learn important skills like teamwork and communication. These skills help us become better leaders in school and life. Daeden Brown said, “A key skill leadership has taught me is confidence. I say confidence because leadership is multiple classes in one, and some of the upperclassmen tend to be bossy. I try to express my ideas and include others’ ideas too.”

Leadership also helps students improve their communication abilities, Michelle McDonell said, “Leadership has made me a lot more open to talking to people about my ideas! It also helped me become a lot less shy.” Teamwork and collaboration can be hard for some people, but leadership encourages them. This is Heidy Aguilar’s take on it: “In leadership, there are many projects to be completed with other classmates. I think this specifically is a factor in collaboration skills because some people are not used to working with others or don’t think they work well with other people until being in leadership.”

Learning these key skills is really important, but Mr. Mark Whitley’s main goal goes further. Mark Whitley said, “The main goal is for them to learn what leadership is-it is not always being the person in charge- there are many ways you can be a leader. And the skills learned in this class can be very helpful to them in their future.” Our teacher’s goal is to guide us so we can become better leaders and better people. He wants us to understand how to use these skills and wants us to understand what leadership really is about. The leadership class teaches us more than just rules and assignments. It helps us build skills like teamwork, communication, and responsibility that we can use every day and in the future. Leadership also gives students the ability to inspire, guide, and influence others. Because of this class, it has helped us become more prepared to face hard challenges and help others.

Do you think leadership class would be the right fit for you?