LEADS

leadership education through academic 
development and service

Sample Essay #1

     Some people choose to lead, and some people choose to follow.  But regardless of the roles we are given later in life, possessing the quality of strong leadership is an essential part of any successful college student.  Leadership is a combination of many traits including communication, projection, empathy, and being a nice person to others.  In taking advantage of all the benefits that an education at the University of Illinois-UC offers, I will not only pursue textbook knowledge but also seek the experiences outside of the classroom that makes a well-rounded student.  The LEADS living/learning community is invaluable in providing that experience, as I will make new friends among likeminded students and expand horizons among our scholar community.  "Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child."  This is also true for college students as we all have a crucial part to play in developing the intellectual well-being of our peers. Due to my multicultural experience immigrating to America at the age of nine, I can contribute unique perspectives that give others insight to cultures outside of America.  I will utilize all the benefits of LEADS to instill leadership into my exciting intellectual experience.

Sample Essay #2

     I would like to begin by saying that the LEADS seems to be a very exciting and interesting living community of which I would be a good addition.  I am attracted to the idea of a community that stresses leadership through involvement in community service.  Leading and doing community service are two activities that I really enjoy.  I like to lead people.  Maybe I have an obsession with power or authority, but I like to be a leader.  In high school, I have been a leader in several activities, such as service trips and retreats.  I feel that I have been successful in these roles and I would like to further develop my leadership abilities through the LEADS program at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
     I have one other major motivation for participating in the LEADS program.  I am concerned that I will simply become a number in the crowd of the thousands of students that attend the University of Illinois.  I do not want to become just a number.  I believe that the LEADS program will help me to make the University of Illinois a much smaller school.  I want to be able to develop close ties with the other students in my housing complex through the interactive community that LEADS offers.  Thank you very much for consideration, I look forward to attending the University of Illinois in the fall.