Write a discursive essay where you consider the role of leaders and leadership.

#625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 89/100 with feedback on how to improve below. You may also like: Leaving Cert English Complete Guide (€).

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality”.

Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading your passion, and inspiration is the process of energizing souls. Today, leadership can be seen in all walks of life. Leaders are everywhere – at home, in school and all throughout mass media. This leaves us asking one question – Are we losing the power of leadership?

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We’ve seen the dangers that leadership can pose. Anyone remember a certain toothbrush-moustache-wearing tyrant? Or perhaps the orange-faced egomaniac currently running the United States? Thankfully, the definition of leadership has changed. There are leaders everywhere today. Leaders that impact, influence, and inspire for the greater good of the world. And they’re closer than you think..

Firstly – our families. Our families have such a huge impact on us. Our parents are leaders of the home. They take care of us. They rear us. They are the reason we are who we are today. As Serena Williams once said, “Tennis is just a game. Family is forever”. Would Serena Williams be the tennis player she is today without the support of her family? No. Our families nurture us. They help us grow. They stand by us. For me, I love drawing. It’s my escape from the hustle and bustle of life. It’s such a soothing influence on the soul; it’s my safe haven. Now, let me tell you this. My father is a cartoonist. Coincidence? I think not. My dad is such an inspiration in my life. He always told me, “Never let go of your dreams”. I dream that one day I’ll be half the man that he is, that one day I’ll inspire my children to break free and reach new heights.

Our families are, without a doubt, the greatest leaders in our lives. They are the first leaders we meet. They lead us through childhood. They lead us through adolescence. They lead us to glory. I think family is key, and if you have love for family, then you have love for others. Think about it, even our morals, our outlook on life (positive or negative), all comes down to our family’s influence. In the words of Haywood Nelson – “My family was my guide to reality”.

Leadership can also be seen in our school life. Teachers are leaders in our personal growth and maturity. We owe a great deal of gratitude towards our teachers, and their impact on our lives. I know what you’re thinking – that penalty sheet didn’t mould you into the person you are today. That geography assignment didn’t create the carpenter you are today. However, it’s the little things we take with us. The memories of bunking off last period with your mates. The trips to the theatre with your less than enthusiastic classmates. The moments of comedy that we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives.

I had a wonderful history teacher. She wasn’t a teacher for the long summer months off. She was a teacher for the kids. She genuinely cared about us. Her kind nature spread far beyond the pages of the history textbook. Teaching was her lifelong joy and obsession. She’d stay back for hours, ensuring we were ready. She didn’t stop until we were masters of essay-writing. The best thing, however, was that she supported our well-being just as much. She was for me, the epitome of what teaching is all about. One thing she said has always stood out in my mind – “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow”. It’s safe to say I’ve brought those words of wisdom with me each and every day since.

The positive influence she had on me, and my peers, is undeniable. She changed my trajectory in life. That’s what teaching is all about. That’s what leading is all about – changing trajectories, for the better of mankind. School impacts, influences, and inspires us all. We learned a lot while walking the wire of the education system. We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean. We were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect. As Abraham Lincoln once remarked – “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next”.

Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping people focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it. It’s about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine. Our families and our schools epitomize my idea of what leadership truly means. They go above and beyond to ensure our success.

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are two key societal members who can make a difference. They are the family and the teacher. The future is determined by the home and the school. Our way of life is the outcome of leadership. And so I ask once again – Are we losing the power of leadership? I don’t think so. I believe leadership is flourishing. Why shouldn’t we look up to our families and our teachers? Their role as leaders is just as important as that of traditional leaders. They influence and inspire us on a daily basis. They have the ability to spark the most change in our lives. They are the leaders of the modern world.

A well written piece. Lots of support and quotes. Some more illustration around the influence of the history teacher on you. Keep central idea there throughout – Losing power of leadership – not just opening and closing. Ideally, the opening epigraph should be attributed to its author.

30-P- 27

30-C-25

30-L-27

10-M-10

89/100

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