By Talya Koger
As a leader at Berkeley High, I define leadership as being aware to others needs and being able to work in order to fulfil them. This year on leadership, my sophomore team volunteered in many community events, such as the Berkeley Project, and is also planning an event called “The Make A Wish Gathering”. In the Berkeley Project, people worked at different places all around Berkeley and volunteered at them. While doing this, I realized that in order to be a leader in Berkeley I have to understand the needs of the people and work to help with these needs. This is the only way to truly understand how to make Berkeley a better place and connect with the people I am a leader of. The Make A Wish Gathering gives each student a chance to write a wish that will better the Berkeley High community. This event gives me the opportunity to hear each student’s desires to make Berkeley High a better and place and gives me a chance to be able to make some of these wishes come true. Napoleon said, “A leader is a dealer in hope”. Being a leader means understanding the people and giving them what they need. Leaders can supply opportunities that many could not get for themselves. This is another reason why the Make A Wish gathering is so important. It gives many students a chance to have hope and make a difference that they may have not been able to before. Through my leadership experience at Berkeley High, I’ve learned to become a better listener and less selfish person because of the necessity to be more aware of others than yourself as a leader. Leaders cannot work in their own best interest but through what best serves the people. In order, to best serve the people leaders must be aware and conscious of needs and be thoughtful in how to fulfill them.