Listening with my whole body. Encouraging others to share. These are skills I learned and improved through a leadership program’s training. Now, I have a whole lifetime with the power to put those skills to use.

Every student should take advantage of the opportunities we have to better the school community and grow as individuals. PHS is lucky to have various leadership programs, such as Youth Educators, Peer Advisors, Peer Mediators and Ground Crew. I know that most of the students at PHS have ideas about how to make the school a better place and want to see their ideas put into action, and through these leadership programs, we are given the opportunity to shape the climate of the school.

Not only does having students as capable leaders to their peers augment their skills, but it also creates diversity so that teachers and adults are not the only ones to help others and offer advice.

Influence from peers may be more effective because of the closeness of age between students because students at PHS experience similar problems with choosing classes, peer pressure or alcohol.

Although the leadership programs allow individual growth and a chance to be heard, many students may not know of the several leadership opportunities on campus. There are some flyers up, but this advertisement is not successfully reaching the majority of students.

Promotion by teachers and announcements also help, but what we need is for the students themselves to be discussing the leadership programs.

Another concern is that many of the distinguished programs at PHS are selective, requiring an application and only allowing students to apply at a specific time. Students may feel that they are not capable leaders or would not fit the norm of students who are involved with leadership, so there is no point in even applying.

Diversity in leadership groups, however, is key. It is important to have a variety of students so that all, or at least most, student ideas are properly represented.

In addition, leadership does not demand a certain profile. Anyone has the capability to be a leader, and a strong one at that. Being a leader is not at all synonymous to being an extrovert.

Students often refrain from getting involved with leadership programs because they think are too timid or shy to be a successful leader.

There is no doubt that high school is a hectic and stressful four years for most students. We, myself included, are juggling our academics and the various extracurriculars, trying to create a balance of time for homework, our activities, our social life and sleep.

It can be difficult to sign up for yet another program, but do not just give up because of that. There many more opportunities to be a leader outside of the organized programs.

Simple actions such as being a good example to others, helping a friend out, standing up for what you believe in or encouraging positive attitudes can go a long way. Being a leader is not defined solely on an elaborate title.

As a member of the student body, you have the power to influence it as a whole and or on an individual level. Whether it is branching out and talking to someone you do not know as well or applying for one of the leadership programs, you are having an impact on others.