Everyone wants to make their mark on the world, everyone wants to make some kind of name before their time on earth is over. Everyone uses different ways to make that impact, to leave that mark, and one of those things that people do is get a leadership role.

Being bullied a lot and feeling dumb compared to my honors student older brother, I always questioned what I was good at and what my purpose was in the world. I rarely got involved in middle school because my mom always wanted me to catch the bus, except in eighth grade where I got to join the choir which was so much fun.

I never had a leadership role of any kind until high school when I was the historian for choir my senior year. I ran my junior year, but of course, it was the popular vote and another kid got it over me. Turns out, he rarely did anything and didn't even take any pictures for the choir scrapbook. I ended up doing the scrapbook because I always had my camera on me and had photos.

Come community college, at first, I wanted to join the honors society because it looked good on a resume. I also loved the events that they put on. It seemed like you had to be a chair or an officer in order to be involved, so I became an informational chair. Unfortunately, my style of leadership didn't seem to suit them—I was depressed I felt like I didn't belong there or anywhere. I thought no one would appreciate my ideas.

That changed when I joined the culture club which welcomed me with open arms. I did many different projects throughout my years where I was a historian and the service officer my last year. It was amazing. I loved that people were actually taking me seriously—I have received so many different opportunities because of that position.

When I graduated from community college and moved on to university, I wondered what I could do from there. I decided to be on a council for my residence hall. It was a pretty amazing experience as well. Unfortunately, in the middle of the fall semester, I got some news that my brother was in the hospital with pneumonia and he almost died (keep in mind he has cystic fibrosis which is not the best combination), which affected me big time. I could barely focus in school, and it showed in my final grades.

While I wasn't on academic probation, my GPA didn't end up being high enough to keep my position and I would have to bring it back up again to stay on the council. Although they insisted that I was still part of the community, I felt like an outsider. When I had positions, I actually didn't feel invisible, this time I did feel that way.

My depression and anxiety had spiked—I lost motivation to do a lot of things that I loved, which affected a lot of things. I eventually started seeing a counselor which has actually helped me out so much. I started working on improving my writing, so I could be back on the newspaper (my depression has caused me to do a poor job in meeting deadlines and doing the proper story gathering), not just for news reasons but also so then I can find the joy and fun in writing again.

I have also helped out at events, volunteered to set up and clean up, sometimes just volunteering to help out can show some leadership.

While it can be hard to manage the anxiety and depression, I am learning how to cope with it in a healthy way with some techniques. I am also writing a fictional story about my experiences—the final product is coming soon.

Even though I lost my official leadership position, I have learned that there are still ways to be a leader in my community. Here are some quotes to inspire people in case they are doubting themselves as leaders as well:

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."-John Quincy Adams

"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"You don't have to hold a position in order to be a leader." – Henry Ford

Those are some of my favorite quotes and often what I look to whenever I am feeling like I am not worth anything. Sometimes, I truly question my worth and forget who I am without a position

At the end of the day, positions do not make leaders. Passion and dedication do. Those traits are the ones that give people a voice so then they can bring change to their community.