From well-accredited United States presidents to fictional leaders like Dumbledore, it is easy to agree that most presidents must be competent, assertive, and compassionate. Being a president isn’t just about holding a title, but rather about one’s ability to connect with their members and community. Taking a deeper dive into some of Chamblee’s high school clubs, it becomes clear that to be an effective leader, a variety of qualities are necessary.
National Honor Society, a club dedicated to service and outreach, requires members to complete a minimum of 20 service hours per semester. Service events include activities such as participating in food drives and working on beautification projects around the school grounds.
As president of NHS, Kathleen Mattison (‘26) coordinates events with outreach programs and records service hours for club members, a task that requires meticulous attention to detail.
“I think that organization is important, since you are the head of the club, have a lot of responsibilities, and are in charge of a lot of people,” said Mattison.
Many club members have individual perspectives on the necessary attributes a president should have.
“I think communication is important, especially with information like deadlines, events, and leadership opportunities…Also, being open to people’s ideas…KK, [Kathleen], has been good at being a president because she represents everyone, and she’s open to suggestions to run NHS as well as possible…She does a great job communicating with her officers and organizing events for students to participate in,” said Grace Graham (‘26).
Looking at Chamblee’s Robotics club, it becomes clear that conflict management is another quality necessary for a great president. When tension arises, a president must be assertive in combating challenges while still maintaining order within the club.
“It’s hard to predict what challenges will come up, so being able to adapt is a good [attribute] to have for a leader or president of a club,” said William O’Neil (‘26). “We don’t have many disagreements or conflicts, but when we do, we make sure to [discuss] before coming to a consensus and going with the prevailing idea.”
As head of the Robotics Club (VEX), O’Neil explained how he used these attributes to resolve conflicts in his own club.
“Last year, a specific team member had said many inappropriate things, and we had to figure out a fair way to [ensure] he wasn’t harming the community of the club…Overall, it’s hard to predict what challenges will come up, so being able to adapt to problems like that is something to have for a good leader or president of a club,” said O’Neil.
While service and technical innovation require strong leadership, so does the world of business and creative thinking. The Entrepreneurship Club brings together students who are passionate about innovation and problem-solving.
Just like NHS and VEX, the success of Entrepreneurship depends heavily on the leadership of its president.
“I try my best to be a good leader,” said Ella King (‘26). “One thing that I’ve started doing this year is giving recognition to people… I think it’s important to acknowledge someone’s hard work and recognize their heart.”
In Entrepreneurship, students are encouraged to build their own business and learn how to lead effectively. One member described how strong, respectful leadership can determine the experience for members.
“Leadership is an essential quality for being president,” said Mallory Williams (‘26). “[Ella King] is powerful in the way she talks to get a group of people’s attention, rather than in a bossy or condescending way.”
Additionally, students gain hands-on experience in developing products and planning their environments. The success of the club depends on both the community and effective student leadership.
“Last year, I made beaded jewelry, and I’ll probably do the same this year,since I have a lot of it already planned out. It’s cool to see the other products that even the officers make, and just how much goes into it…[Ella King] does an excellent job planning events to sell our products,” said Williams.
Despite leading different clubs, each of these presidents demonstrates a strong commitment to their members and goals. Whether it’s through planning service events, navigating challenges, or cultivating ideas and innovation, these student leaders embody the necessary qualities of true leadership.
For students who want to be future club presidents, King gave great advice:
“Just do whatever you want,” said King. “Choose to do something that you’re passionate about and execute it, and then do it regardless of what anyone else may say.”
