“Growing up, my mom used to always say ‘obey your elders,’ no matter the circumstance,” said senior Matheo Rimano. For generations, kids have been told to do whatever their superiors say. But what does superior mean for young children? As a kid, almost everyone feels taller, heavier, smarter and older than you–which is scary. Survival instincts kick in and tell you that if you can’t defeat them, you must obey them. This mindset follows a lot of us into adulthood and is reflected in how institutions operate. As you may be familiar with, many institutions treat promotions as rewards for people who have been working for many years, meaning leadership is tied to age. This starts a cycle where people are conditioned to obey whoever is given formal authority because of age, not worthiness. However, in recent years, these strict hierarchical structures have dissolved because of tech savvy and startup culture. The traditional way of leadership has changed; there is no way around it, and it’s changing from the inside out. Progressive leadership dynamics can be seen taking place on school campuses, like The Village School, preparing students to thrive in this new reality.
At The Village School, anyone of any grade (9th-12th) can start a club or take on leadership roles, because leadership isn’t tied to seniority. Rather, students are encouraged to become leaders, driven by initiative and collaboration. For example, in both courses offered at The Village School under the Journalism umbrella, Yearbook and Newspaper, students don’t wait their turn; they step up. In Newspaper class this year, our editor-in-chief is a junior. At first, it was weird for me to take commands from someone an entire grade below me. I was conditioned to believe that leadership came from the top, whether by age or rank. But through dedication and perseverance, Nina Koshy showed me her skills were undeniable. She hadn’t inherited the role, she’d earned it. This real-world leadership experience taught me to recognize when to lead and when to be led, especially by younger students with different kinds of authority.
This leadership dynamic isn’t confined to educational institutions, it is also altering the professional world. For example, in the tech world, you will usually find young twenty-something year olds leading teams of older employees. Similarly, start-up culture has been impactful in changing this leadership approach. Access to the internet has made it easier for visionaries to succeed. More and more young adults are finding success from a young age, meaning more young people are ending up in these leadership positions.
This rather sporadic hierarchy, so different from the traditional top-down model, makes some uncomfortable because age is equated to experience. Although some resistance has been met because it causes discomfort, industries are evolving to accommodate this shift. In the past decade, soft skills have become extremely valued. Emotional intelligence, innovation and adaptability are becoming some of the most sought-after skills in the business world. People with these skills tend to be more collaborative and therefore more valuable. In today’s world, yes, age is a factor, but no longer a determinant.
Understandably, accepting guidance from a younger individual can be humbling for some, but it can also be liberating. Accepting this leadership dynamic reframes the concept of leadership as we know it. It is no longer something that is assumed, but something that is earned. At Village, many of the staff members are older than our administration. Still, they work together with mutual respect and shared purpose, modeling the same leadership principles we are taught.
As I reflect on my first impression of Newspaper class–being led by someone younger–I no longer see it as bizarre. After two years of being under Nina Koshy’s command, I see it as second nature because I’ve seen it work. I feel prepared for whatever comes my way during and after college. Being around these leadership dynamics at The Village School has taught me readiness. I’ve come to understand that leadership is no longer about age; it’s about stepping up and lifting others simultaneously.
