Most schools, if not all, have student leaders representing their colleagues in student council or student union, which exists both in high schools and colleges. Student leadership aims to enable students to have representatives amongst themselves to be their voice to the management of their respective schools. In other words, student leaders serve as the bridge between the school’s management and the students. It is primarily designed to help groom students for future leadership roles, including those of the community and the country at large. Student leadership cuts across many positions, both in high schools and colleges. There is the office of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and more.
Qualities of a Student Leader
The position of a student leader is enviable and it demands a great level of devotion, so it is important to note that certain skills are to be acquired to enable you to be an effective leader. While the position of a student leader might be very demanding, it can also be very rewarding. For this reason, it behooves a student leader to appreciate the position held and be able to juggle the needs and demands of being a good leader while also standing instead for his colleagues and the school.
A few qualities that mark a good student leader include:
- Communication
- Resilience
- Positivity
- Flexible and adaptable
- Self-discipline
- Accountability
Additionally, it is best believed that possessing certain skills would prove useful in determining an effective leader. Some of these skills are:
- Effective Communication: Both written and oral.
- Strong organization and management.
- Good listening.
- Advocacy skills.
- Interpersonal.
- Leadership
- Negotiation; and more.
Role and Responsibilities of Student Leaders
Student leaders are not autonomous by themselves. They are either appointed or elected by their fellow students or selected by the officials of the school’s management.
Student leaders play crucial roles, and these are:
- To advocate student-friendly policies to the management of the school, while also sensitizing students on existing school policies.
- To groom and provide leadership opportunities and service within and outside the premises of the school.
- To promote student involvement and the school’s image.
- Opening channels for students’ expression.
- Promotion of respect for law and order, both within the school and the community.
Therefore, it is worth stating that as much as the seat of leadership plays a crucial role in a school, high school, or college, there is no uniform standard for attaining the position of a student leader. Qualification criteria differ by school, so it is important to understand the requirements for eligibility at the school that one wishes to represent, whether by appointment or election. More so, understanding the role of being a student leader is most critical to the success or failure of one’s leadership ability.
Types of Student Leadership Positions
Each position holder must be able to act within the confines of the constitutional role assigned by the institution represented. Therefore, the student leadership positions can be classified into different roles, and they include:
- President
- Responsible for being the head and representation of the student government body at school, meetings, or functions that involve the interests of the students.
- Coordinated and supervise other council members in the student government body.
- Develop and set the agenda of council meetings.
- Responsible for setting, appointing, and coordinating committee (s) to ensure it achieves the purpose for which it was created.
- Vice President
- Responsible for taking and presiding over the duties of the president in his absence.
- Overseer and coordinator of the committee(s) established
- And other duties as may be prescribed by the constitution of the school represented.
- Secretary
- Preparation of agendas for meetings.
- Keep and maintain records, reports, and correspondences of the student government body
- Preparation and distribution of meeting minutes
- Represent student bodies in certain functions as may be requested by the President.
- Represent student’s body in certain functions as may be requested by the President.
- Treasurer
- Required to prepare the budget.
- Responsible for preparing and keeping the financial records of the student body.
- To present the proposed budget to council members.
- Sign purchase orders.
- Council Member(s)
- Serves as the bridge between his class and the student government body, so communication from both ends flows through the office.
- Serves in any committee appointed.
- Volunteer as may be needed.
Finally, it is important to take note that the makeup of student leadership positions differs in schools, so some might behave in more positions than others.
Benefits of being a Student Leader
The benefits of being a student leader can be enormous, especially as youths are highly regarded as the leaders of the future. First, one of the obvious benefits that stand out is that it is a boost to one’s resumé, as well as helps one’s career path. Second, it serves as a nurturing ground to develop skill sets that will prepare you for numerous leadership positions, ranging from family to societal, corporate to national roles.
Third, it comes with the gratification of seeing ideas come to fruition and the attainment of set goals with the team. Another added benefit of being a student leader is that it serves as an encouraging factor to help students shape their school into what they desire, oftentimes representing their interests. It also serves as a channel for promoting the cohesiveness of culture and ethos in school while also spreading the spirit of cooperation in the community.
In conclusion, student leadership gives a true reflection of how the government in a society truly runs, and it also serves as a preparatory ground for students that will later emerge as future leaders. More so, most student leaders are reputed to later emerge as societal leaders in different spheres.