We frequently hear about “leaders” on campus. For most this term describes someone who holds a position within student government, athletics, or another organization on campus. However, this is not always the case. To help prepare myself for this office I read a few books, one of them called Leaders by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus. In the first chapter they state, “The new leader is one who commits people to action, who converts followers into leaders, and who may convert leaders into agents of change.”

Building on this definition, people I have come across that have made a difference on campus have all had something in common. They all had a vision of what it could be like. They envisioned potential for bettering life on campus, researched opportunities that could have a profound impact, or created a winning team, to name a few. The vision is just the beginning. What really makes a leader is not just defining a vision but also the ability to get others to see it and motivated to achieve it.

These people didn’t necessarily have extravagant personalities. Most would admit that they weren’t born with natural leadership ability. The qualities that seem to be successful are persistence and patience, the ability to continually learn from those around you, and the ability to change with the surrounding environment, all while moving forward towards a vision.

What makes this campus great are the students that comprise it. You can have great impact on campus by recognizing an opportunity for improvement and motivating those around you to achieve it. It requires persistence—perhaps more than at most schools—because of our intense curriculum.

I challenge the students on this campus to want and learn to lead. Pick something that you are passionate about and improve it. Create a vision and get others to work with you to accomplish it. You will likely be doing a service to Rensselaer and to yourself.