By Pallavi Kawatra, Opinions Editor

Trinity Hall emphasizes the importance of leadership within its four core values, but a recent policy that enforces how leadership is distributed within the school has created quite a stir among the students.

Earlier this year, the school’s administration decided that students can only hold one leadership role; for instance, a student cannot be a club leader while also holding a leadership position in student council. Though some students support this controversial policy, many, like myself, feel that is should be altered.

“If a girl is truly a born leader then she should be able to show her leadership in multiple forms. She shouldn’t be stuck in one position only,” said Brianne Dwyer, the current sophomore chair of the athletic council. I completely agree with Dwyer’s opinion — if a student can effectively lead a club and is also elected by her peers to be a student council representative, then why should she be deprived of either opportunity?

Moreover, if a student has multiple passions and wants to start more than one club, she will only be allowed to lead one of them. Therefore this policy discourages students from pursuing their interests.

Currently I am not only the student body president, but also the leader of Trinity Speaks, the debate/public speaking club I founded at the end of last year. Soon I will have to hand over the leadership role of the club I founded in order to continue serving as student body president. I find this unfair because I have put in the time and effort to get the club on its feet only to be forced to hand the reigns to someone else.

I understand that the administration wants all students to have the opportunity to be a leader, but a true leader will find a way to be one on her own, whether its by creating a club or by being elected to student council by her peers because she has demonstrated the necessary skills.

Leadership cannot be given; it must be earned through hard work and dedication to a cause or organization. If a student earns and effectively fulfills a leadership role, it should not be taken away simply because she also wants to lead her community in another way. As long as her roles don’t conflict and she responsibly meets the demands of the multiple positions, limiting that student’s experience as a leader seems to go against one of our school’s core values. Shouldn’t we value and further develop her skills, talents and potential by giving her more – not less – opportunities to lead?