Glancing down at my pre-organized cue cards, I stand before the class in apprehension. If I manage to win over enough of my peers, I’ll get to lead my class in various activities over the coming months. However, if my speech is not quite up to scratch, my jokes just a touch on the awkward side of entertaining, I’ll be cast back into the sea of classmates.

As someone who has jumped around various Australian schools in my younger years, I noticed one big thing in common between all of them – an emphasis on leadership. Students from eight to eighteen are given a plethora of leadership opportunities. Conducting massed choirs, sorting peers into sporting events, giving speeches on green energy, and leading the class are only a few of over 1,500 options available at my school alone.

From ages eight to twelve, many students put their hands up. Students are generally eager to show their skills to their peers and prove themselves to their parents and teachers. Although the main competition is “who has the most engaging speech,” year six was a great year for leadership at my school. But it is the only great year.

Although still with a desire to prove themselves, as students age, generally laziness and insecurity become a major factor that ultimately leads to the decline of fresh leaders. Either they feel they’re not the best fit for the role, or they’re simply unmotivated to put in the additional effort that comes with the role. Although Australian schools give us so many opportunities, they are meaningless if taken for granted.

It is important for leaders in the workforce to be able to lead, but also able to do it well. That is why schools in Australia give many different opportunities throughout the years – so that each student will be more likely to find a role suited to them.

I don’t know quite why becoming Class Captain back in year five was so important to me. Was it the badge on my collar I wanted, or the respect that comes with the position?

However, by finding a role that I could thrive in, I was able to develop valuable skills in organization, public speaking, resource management, and consensus building that have proven immensely helpful throughout my schooling. Although many Australian students are not going to put their hands up later in school, it is important that they give leadership a go at some point in their schooling so that they can develop these much-needed skills. After all, how can you foster a sense of leadership and help students develop inner strength if many are unwilling to give it a go?