“Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself,” Said American scholar Warren Bennis.  “It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult.”

Throughout the late weeks of January and Early February 2017, Battlefield administration went from classroom to classroom giving presentations on SALC, a student leadership class scheduled to be opened in time for the 2017-2018 school year.

SALC, or Student Activities Leadership Course,  is an elective class focused on the development of critical life skills, generally promoting skills significant in student leaders, and serves as a certain amount of preparation for classes and jobs beyond high school.

Students taking the class as Sophomores will have the opportunity to continue the course, and in the third year of SALC, as seniors, will become mentors for younger students taking the class. Objectives for the class include group cooperation, planning and organizing, and development of leadership skills. According to the SLC1 information pamphlet, which is available in the front office,  the class also contains opportunities to support multiple charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Taking a class like SALC may seem boring and unnecessary during high school years, but could teach valuable leadership and cooperation skills required to compete in the adult world and aid in working life. Qualities taught by this class, especially leadership, are sought out by employers and highly valued in working environments. Taking classes like SALC also shows a desirable amount of drive to change or improve work ethic. As Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

A lot of the stigma against classes and groups surrounding the development of leadership and similar qualities involves the refusal to be ‘one of those kids’, but SALC is not a class designed for a particular kind of student, only students willing to learn and become open to new skills and ideas. It teaches high school age students valuable life skills, and if the class is not right for the student, there are opportunities to quit the class after the first year of taking it because it is an elective.

As Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield stated, “Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine.”