In the New York Times a few weeks ago, there was a very interesting opinion piece by Susan Cain titled “Followers Wanted.” As the piece points out, because many colleges express that their admissions teams strongly value “leadership,” many young people feel pressured into activities and positions in which they do not have a genuine interest. The author asserts that “Leadership” is a codeword which means authority and the ability to give orders.
As I reflect on our own program, I am proud that we do not abide by this referenced definition of leadership. Leaders at Poughkeepsie Day are not necessarily “in charge” of their peers, but avidly pursuing passions, ideas and interests because they find meaningful. In addition to (and sometimes instead of) being club leaders and captains, our students are thoughtfully participating in ways which align closely to their values. Our leaders are raising funds for causes they find worthy such as our recent Heal Haiti Concert, inviting experts to our school to discuss things like reproductive health, doing painstaking and challenging research in the field with our biology instructors, creating silly and fun ways to make being a PDS student more enjoyable such as our first ever Jam-Visory and articulating their viewpoints to their peers and teachers in ways that help everyone grow.
From the college application perspective, I find it exciting to support young people as they figure out how to express these passions, ideas, and interests to colleges in ways that show the depth and authenticity of their commitment. While I personally wouldn’t label someone who “forges their own path” a follower, I agree with the author that being an soloist, being introspective, or being a team player are most important and desirable qualities.