We wish to extend our congratulations to Hopkinton High rising sophomore Joshua Jones for submitting the winning essay and earning the first annual HopNews Leadership Academy Scholarship. Jones will be awarded the full tuition cost ($1,345) to attend the Enjoy Life Education Leadership Academy this summer.

Leadership Academy is open to all rising 10th – 12th graders and this year will be hosted at Stonehill College from July 10 – 14. It is a cell phone and social media-free zone for the week for the kids, who spend time discovering their true identity and making real, lasting connections with others.

The assignment was simple: In their own words, we asked applicants to describe what leadership means to them. We are grateful to have received several essays and the decision was incredibly difficult; we were very impressed by the thought and care our young people put into the assignment. Ultimately, we felt Jones’ submission was a cut above the others.

We have printed the full text of his essay below. Congratulations, Joshua!

Being a Leader: What It Means To Me

by Joshua Jones

Being a leader is not about taking some grand action or having control over others. Instead, a leader is a person who paves a path for others to follow, a path that leads to happiness and success not just for the leader but for the group as a whole.  A leader may even be a person who calls out those who are abusing their power and will take a stand in order to protect others. But a leader could also be the person who is picking up trash or helping an elderly person cross the street.  These large or small actions will lead to positive outcomes in the community.

Good leaders generally rely not only on their own intuition but also listen to those around them to more effectively solve problems. A leader will make decisions with input from others, weighing the good and the bad, which should result in the best possible course of action. A good leader also allows others to participate, will share power and will ask for help when needed. This creates a far more positive group dynamic and makes everyone feel involved while also allowing potentially more skilled people the opportunity to act. A good leader helps others show their strengths.

We as a society wouldn’t want one company running everything or one person controlling the entire country, and this means leaders in companies and the government have to work with others to achieve success. A good leader is a trendsetter connecting skilled people together. 

Leaders don’t have just one set of talents, and they are everywhere: coaches, managers, politicians, teachers, and CEOs. For any organization to be successful it needs effective, centralized leadership.

I have worked as a class officer in the position of Treasurer and I am a Select Board appointed member of the Hopkinton Youth Commission. These positions have allowed me to serve as a leader in my community. Whenever I am serving my community,  I try to project my beliefs about leadership.  I know when to let the more skilled step up to the bat while also doing as much as work as I can to create success for us all.  Often this means taking in the input of others. 

Being selected for this camp opportunity would help me become an even better leader because I can learn new skills and make connections with people who want to be leaders too. In conclusion, a good leader is someone who creates paths, opportunities, and connections for others and by doing so culminates in a better world for all.