In recent years, the phenomenon of student leadership is at a high. Universities value their student leadership, and it has become a significant selling point for prospective students. At Penn State specifically, there are over one thousand student organizations, all of which include unique leadership structures and practices. What is great about student leadership, and at the same time not great, stems from the lack of maturity and experience. Student leaders often step into more influential roles than they ever experienced before. The great part of this is they are new, which in turn emphasizes a lot of creativity and experimentation. It is a time for a lot of development and seeing what works and what doesn’t. This aids in personal growth and leadership growth. It is a vital step to becoming a great leader. On the downside, student leaders have minimal experience, if any. Which makes it difficult to navigate certain parts of being a leader, specifically dealing with conflict and tough conversations. Getting through them is a part of growth, but approaching these situations is stressful and intimidating. I believe that there can be a balance, however. It is important for professors to create environments in their classrooms that encourages collaboration within groups that do not normally mesh. And, an environment that pushes for constructive criticism, feedback and healthy disagreement. Beginning to get comfortable with these ideas through a classroom setting will help better prepare student leaders. Also, it is a useful skill to have.
Classrooms are an incredible part of development and preparedness. I believe that educators play a crucial role in creating these environments that encourage growth. In a collegiate setting, regardless of subject area, I believe educators should include aspects of teamwork and leadership to better prepare students for their future interactions and current leadership.