Empowering tomorrow’s leaders; how MHS cultivates leadership skills in students

Ruhi Kaneria | The Chronicle

Leadership, especially student leadership, has always been idolized in Mason High School (MHS). Many available leadership opportunities exemplify the debate on whether leadership is inherited or learned over time. 

One side of the debate argues that students can become student leaders by working on their communication and policy-making skills. Newly created class Leadership, Public Policy, and You teacher Darin Little emphasizes the importance of creating student leaders today.    

“Post-COVID, I felt like there was starting to be more political divisiveness and a growing gap between the Republican and Democratic parties and there was a lot of discord,” Little said. “On social media, some people were only listening to their sides, and they would shun the other side, so I decided to combine leadership and character with public policy, so kids could learn how to lead themselves and others and engage in proper public debate and discussion.”  

Little began the course by having the class establish a common definition of leadership, by creating a personal inventory of the student’s skills which they call their “leadership toolbox.” Little said he hopes that these tools give students the skills to lead themselves and others beyond the classroom. 

“Students can apply the principles that we have learned in the class to their organizations, clubs or teams that they are involved in,” Little said. “They can grow as a person and by helping them identify who they are and who they want to be, it will make them better communicators and better leaders in whatever profession or career path they choose.”  

With leadership often comes the pressure of fulfilling the expectations set in place. Little said that pressure is internal and, through the Leadership, Public Policy, and You class, he intends to leave students with more skills they can use when faced with stress. 

“We make the decisions in our own life on what is going to have an impact, either positively or negatively, on our behavior,” Little said. “Expectations should be set yourself, and you should be the one setting your own goals and expectations and following your own path to achieving those.” 

MHS offers many avenues of leadership for students to choose from. Some students may decide to refine their skills in a class setting, while many choose a club to naturally showcase their ability to lead.  The Students Involving and Befriending Students (SIBS) advisors Nicole Paxton and Angie Johnston provide insight into how SIBS provides an opportunity for natural leaders to showcase their inherent strengths.  

“SIBS puts opportunities in place for kids to find what they really enjoy doing since many kids are already talking to other kids and are already volunteering for things,” Paxton said. “Since our school is so big, it would be hard for people to make the impact that we do if they tried to all do it individually, so SIBS gives students more opportunities and more natural ways to come together as a group.”  

Both Paxton and Johnston said some students may be farther in the progression of leadership due to the way they were raised by their family. They have noticed that if a student’s family prioritizes empathy at a young age, the student is better equipped to lead. 

“Skills come from your families and your own family dynamic and when you come to school, you come with these moral values of what is important to your family,” Paxton said.

Johnston said that while SIBS helps students find a natural outlet to lead, it also helps them reflect and work to soften their edges by understanding more niche skills. 

“There are definitely some natural traits such as being a good speaker and  being a good listener that come naturally with people, but you have to learn too,” Johnston said. “SIBS is a mix, because we have some good, natural leaders, but they still have a lot to learn from. It is as much leading as it is learning from your group.” 

Paxton and Johnston credit clubs like SIBS to help with the revival of personal skills that have recently been on a decrease due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Paxton said that these skills can be learned, but many students have learned these skills as they have authentically seeped their way into students’ lives. 

“Everybody can do it in a small way,” Paxton said. “It is those little skills that you guys are using in your day to day life that are really valuable skills that you can bring to a conversation or to a classroom.” 

Despite the benefits that come with being a student leader, Paxton said there is pressure that comes with having a strong skill set. She said many students in SIBS are natural leaders so they feel pressured to dedicate themselves to many clubs. SIBS especially have been influenced by Mason’s go-getter attitude as many reference in their application that they saw older SIBS when they were younger and wanted to join a bigger cause. 

Many students, like National Honor Society (NHS) President Nethra Gunda, dedicate themselves to honorable causes and have a place to exhibit both natural and learned leadership. 

“[Leadership] is a balance of both naturally leading and being taught,” Gunda said. “ Learning on my own and figuring things out by myself is really important to me as well as asking for help when I need it by going to the advisors and the people around me.” 

Gunda said that there will inherently be pressure with any role. Given the size of MHS, Gunda said that there can be doubts about your leadership skills, but she reminds herself to embrace her individuality and what she brings to the table. 

“Pressure comes from the way that I look at others by comparing myself to them, and then putting that on myself,” Gunda said. “In NHS, we have such a great support system and great people to work with so I try to focus on the positive and if the negative side does come up, I work to let that go and focus on the better.” 

By being president of NHS, Gunda said that pressure will always exist, but her mindset can impact the outcome. Learning this balance has benefited Gunda from being overwhelmed as she leads the NHS members. 

“There are pros and cons of pressure because pressure can definitely push you to become a better version of yourselves and learn from mistakes, but at the same time, you don’t want it to roll over and take over you,” Gunda said. “Finding that balance between good pressure and negative pressure and differentiating between the two is important.”

Gunda said that attempting to balance her many passions has led to additional stress. However, through her leadership role, Gunda has learned what to implement to ensure that she fulfills the goal of NHS giving back to the community and other organizations.  

“I have learned to delegate and not handle everything myself because that is something that I have done in the past,” Gunda said. “At the end of the day, it is a team and you have to work with others and delegate tasks so that no one feels the pressure of too much work, but also at the same time, is doing thorough work and getting things done effectively.” 

Gunda said she hopes that other students can find outlets in the school to showcase their skills, whether those skills have been absorbed at home or taught in class. Rather than learning leadership skills, Gunda notes that passion is the most important factor in leading and that anyone, not just student leaders, can harvest positive action.

“Everyone has the ability to make some change in any way they can, whether that be in the school or outside,” Gunda said. “Just focus on what you want to do and what positive impact you can make, and go from there.”