Over the past five years of working and watching students, I would put these in my top 10:
1. Rooted in prayer. It is in and through prayer that our apostolate becomes effective.
2. Steeped in silence. In silence, they can hear the Lord's directives and heed his call.
3. Practice social virtues. Students who understand how to listen, to be gracious, to smile, and engage in conversation create an atmosphere of peace and kindness which is contagious and sets the tone.
4. Passions under control. Reals student leaders can control their passions and don't make pleasure their end. In our classical / Catholic tradition, pleasure accompanies the good but is never the end of our actions.
5. Servant leader. Student leaders are servants, metaphorically, "washing the feet" of their peers.
6. Good time management. Student leaders are balanced, making time for exercise, leisure, prayer, and or course studies. Student leaders study first.
7. Organized. Organization leads to success because it allows for one to accomplish the task at hand with the necessary tools. Disorganization in outer things reflects disorganization within.
8. Dress with class. Student leaders know how to dress modestly yet with class and style. This raises the bar in the classroom, the chapel and on campus.
As St. Frances de Sales points out in his famous Introduction to the Devout Life, "Now, modesty in dress and its appurtenances depends upon the quality, the fashion and the cleanliness thereof. As to cleanliness, that should be uniform, and we should never, if possible, let any part of our dress be soiled or stained. External seemliness is a sort of indication of inward good order, and God requires those who minister at His Altar, or minister in holy things, to be attentive in respect of personal cleanliness.
As to the quality and fashion of clothes, modesty in these points must depend upon various circumstances, age, season, condition, the society we move in, and the special occasion. Most people dress better on a high festival than at other times; in Lent, or other penitential seasons, they lay aside all gay apparel; at a wedding they wear wedding garments, at a funeral, mourning garb; and at a king's court the dress which would be unsuitable at home is suitable.
A wife may and should adorn herself according to her husband's wishes when he is present;--if she does as much in his absence one is disposed to ask in whose eyes she seeks to shine? We may grant somewhat greater latitude to maidens, who may lawfully desire to attract many, although only with the view of ultimately winning one in holy matrimony....Always be neat, do not ever permit any disorder or untidiness about you. There is a certain disrespect to those with whom you mix in slovenly dress; but at the same time avoid all vanity, peculiarity, and fancifulness. As far as may be, keep to what is simple and unpretending--such dress is the best adornment of beauty and the best excuse for ugliness. S. Peter bids women not to be over particular in dressing their hair. Every one despises a man as effeminate who lowers himself by such things, and we count a vain woman as wanting in modesty, or at all events what she has becomes smothered among her trinkets and furbelows. They say that they mean no harm, but I should reply that the devil will contrive to get some harm out of it all.
For my own part I should like my devout man or woman to be the best dressed person in the company, but the least fine or splendid, and adorned, as S. Peter says, with "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."
9. Generous. Student leaders are generous with their time, talent, and treasure.
10. Humble. Student leaders are humble about their success. They are never showy, flaunting, flatterers, or prideful in their mood, speech, or action.
May we be blessed with many students leaders this next semester and for every semester to come!
1 comment:
I hope I was a good student leader. I tried to be, at least.
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