here are three ideals that can give you a successful future. These ideals are scholarship, leadership and service.

Many students concentrate on keeping high grades, getting an internship or finding experience in their field, among other academic achievements. These are all positive ways to obtain goals you have made for yourself. I would like to classify these academic achievements as scholarship. Along with scholarship, many successful students recognize leadership as an important asset in their success.

Leadership is easily recognizable through many different positions. A leader can be the president of her sorority or his fraternity, a camp counselor, a team captain or an outgoing, active member of a club who shares his or her ideas with the group. The list goes on.

Leadership demonstrates interest, goal setting, confidence and ability. These qualities prepare us for the real world; they also hold the capability of impressing peers, professors and future employers.

It is no surprise scholarship and leadership are highly looked upon in an academic setting. The two qualities combined show determination and help students achieve success. Along with scholarship and leadership, I feel there is a third asset to this success, and that is service.

While gaining personal achievements through scholarship and having the ability of leadership, it is important to give the time or resources you can in order to better yourself and your community. By including service on your journey to success, you can create a world of opportunity for others. Taking time to read to children at a local school, fighting breast cancer at events such as Relay for Life or cooking a meal for the hungry are all ways in which you can make a difference for others with the giving of yourself.

When I came to college, scholarship, leadership and service were appealing to me. My junior year, I got the opportunity to work with other students who prided themselves on the same values through joining the NIU Pleiades chapter, Mortar Board Senior Honor Society.

This student-governed honor society provides its members with the atmosphere of scholarship, leadership and service. Mortar Board has brought me the opportunity to exercise the three ideals along with the ability to meet wonderful people. I want to share this opportunity with you and invite you to the Pleiades chapter Web site. If you see the qualities of scholarship, leadership and service in your college career and hope to continue to advance these ideals, please visit www.mortarboard.niu.edu.

I challenge you to go out and look for opportunities in these areas. You will find that it will greatly improve your time here at NIU. Whether you join a fraternity or sorority, a professional organization or a club, remember to become involved to represent your values.

Erik Person also contributed to this column.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.