Throughout my high school career, I always knew I wanted to be a leader. Something about being able to influence others and enable them to do something great always inspired me to go onto something bigger; I wanted to use my positional power as a catalyst to activate their personal power.

However, I was always scared. I was always intimidated by someone else and believed that I was not as suitable for the job as the person next to me might be. Whenever I began my college transition post-high school graduation, this changed. My self-esteem rose to a level in which I never thought possible, and I realized that I wanted to join student organizations and lead them. Here are some ways that being a student leader changed my life.

1. Getting to work with like-minded people is an amazing, encouraging thing.

I've always been incredibly motivated to do things that are bigger than me, and being able to achieve that with people like me is an amazing feeling. The ladies I work with on Community Council share the same goals and ideas as I do, which makes it so much easier to work towards the same goal.

2. You get to change lives.

For SGA, we hosted a flag football event deemed "Touchdowns for Tucker" which raised money for a child in need. Tucker, who the money was for, is in the middle. He had such an amazing time and even got to make the last touchdown, which was one of the most touching moments ever.

3. You get to see plans become a reality.

For Community Council, we put on a Puppy Program where people got to come and pet dogs for a $1, got to take a picture with them for another $1 and purchase coffee and baked goods. It was so much fun and so rewarding to see it come into fruition.

4. You get to empower people to partake in the things you've loved your entire life.

For my club NCTE'eers, we helped raise books to donate to libraries in downstate West Virginia affected by flooding. We got over 5,000 donations, and seeing them being packed away was amazing.

5. You learn a lot about yourself.

I have learned that I am strong, independent and capable of anything I put my mind to. The things I have learned through being a student leader are priceless, and I am the happiest I have ever been because of it.