Zeal of Service

They said that everything happens by accident, but I believe otherwise. I believe that everything happens for a reason -- we are at the right time at the right place with the right people because of a reason. I believe that God put us where we are because it is where we should be. I believe that everything happens because He decided to.

It is still quite clear to me what happened 5 years ago. That summer of 2011, when I walked in the hallway on the 5th floor of the Life Science Building of De La Salle Araneta University, I never thought my life will change after that. But it did, it was a turning point of my life. The day that will always linger to my mind and for sure I will never ever forget. I was appointed as the Auditor of Hotel and Restaurant Management Society, my very own organization.

Honestly, I never imagined I’d become a leader. For me, leading people wasn’t my thing because I never wanted any attention. I hate the spotlight. I hate being in the front line and I hate taking responsibility.  I hate those times when people would tell me what to do and most importantly, I never wanted to have a status to keep but to my dislike it all happened. 

I believed that I was too far away to be so called a student-leader. I had my doubts, I didn’t have the guts to do things I am afraid of and I am unsure of. I can honestly say I had a low self-esteem. 

But everything changed after that day, I became someone I never thought I would become. I learned to overcome my doubts, I learned to build my confidence and my self-worth. I learned what to say at the right time at the right place with the right people. I learned to make a stand for what I think is right. I learned to come up with a vision that incorporates my mission as a student leader.

The journey I had as a student-leader wasn’t easy. It was a tough roller coaster ride for me.    It was hard because I was hesitant to say no. At first, people would criticize me that I can’t do things right and made me feel worthless. I lost some of my friends along the way because I was too focused serving my fellow students. I missed some of the important events because of several leadership training camps I needed to attend. Because I focused more on my position rather than my studies to the extent that I had to stay another year in college.

Despite all, I kept my feet on the ground and moved forward. I never let their words affect me in a way that it would negatively affect to my duties and responsibilities as their leader. I never regretted it, I embraced the positions I held. It was a wonderful journey for me. From being auditor, I became the president of my very own organization and a year after that I became the Vice President for External Affairs of the highest governing student body of the university, the Supreme Student Council.

Before I entered school politics, I thought the goals of a student government or any organization was plainly to organize a successful event. However, I realized that organizing successful events doesn’t equate directly to a good leadership. I started to believe that I was in my position to do something that other student-leaders failed to do, which was to serve. To serve in a sense that I should make a stand and draw the line for what is for the students and by the students. I believed that I should be an active agent in promoting the holistic growth of a Lasalyanetan student through their skills, talent and awareness which would bear fruit to proactive involvement inside and outside DLSAU. As a Lasalyantan leader, I took the responsibility to lead for the students and by the students and providing what is need and safeguard their rights. 

During my last 3 years in college, I spent my days to be the best person I can be. Not just for myself but also for the student I serve. As I look back to what I had and what I am right now, I thank God for His intervention. I graduated in college without any honors nor my name was not even mentioned. But I didn’t felt bad about it nor lamented that I wasted 3 years of my life serving my fellow students without prestige or recognition in return. I recalled when my professor told my parents “Magaling pong leader ang anak ninyo” during my graduation rites. To me, it was the best award I had ever received in my entire lifetime. I got the respect and admiration of my fellow students, my colleagues, and my professors. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the love and support from my friends and family.

I left college proud of what I had done and become. I believe that, I served my alma mater in accordance with the mission of one of its founder, St. John Baptist De La Salle which are to teach the mind, to touch the heart and to transform lives of others. I believed that I may not be the best student-leader my alma mater would have, but I believed I served enough to leave a mark to the people around me for them to continue the mission of service.