Speak and Lead with Passion
11:15 AM
To serve a country
is a noble profession, to serve a profession is a waiting vocation, –and to
serve an organization— will always be a passion waiting to be explored. Very few can consistently follow their
interests in the bustling, caffeine-induced university lifestyle, but the
rewards have always been gratifying. When you become part of something bigger,
you sheath yourself to broaden your arms, paving way to the capabilities you’ve
always had, but never had the occasion to explore.
In an interview, four
astounding volunteers of passion from the Speech-Language Pathology program: Mayka Causing (3SLP), the Chief of Staff
of the Student Council, Ma. Keziah
Solomon (4SLP), the Managing Director for the House Sperare of the Performing Arts Guild/PAG; Juztine Mae Ongtangco (3SLP), the
Managing Editor of the Therapeutic Currents/TC, the Official Publication of
CRS; and Ma. Czarina Isabelle Justiniani (4SLP),
Director General of the Performing Arts Guild, are some of the few that shared
with us their experiences as officers in their respective organizations.
Photo Credit: Juztine Ongtangco, Therapeutic Currents
These individuals
shared their reasons in joining their respective organizations, showing that a
simple shared interest can go a long way.
Ongtangco said, “TC
(Therapeutic Currents) needs people who will dedicate time and talent to it,
and I trust I could be one of those people. I see it also as a chance for me to
grow — I wanted to push my limits.”.
“We who pioneered
House Sperare actually came from Coro Pax Romana.” Solomon shared, “We merged with the Performing Arts Guild
because Pax didn’t have enough members to continue and we just couldn’t let the
college chorale disappear. Merging with PAG was honestly life-changing: we kept
the chorale alive and were given the opportunity to experience life being
surrounded with people who loves what you love.”.
Justiniani,
meanwhile, told us, “...Joining was one
thing; staying is another. I stayed in PAG because I wanted to stay true to
myself. I stayed because I was doing what I loved. I stayed because I had
fallen in love with the amount of soul and character each member puts into
their every performance. I stayed because the bond I had formed within the
organization was more than just friendship – it was family.” .
“I joined [the] student council because [first] it is my passion to serve ever since High School. I’m active in organization works and now I [wanted to] grab the opportunity to serve our college. Second is that I love to empower other students by giving them the chance to staff in events offered by the council or any other organizations. And third is I’ve got to meet and connect with other students.” Causing added in the conversation.
Photo Credits: Czarina Justiniani, CRS Performing Arts Guild
Being an officer is
not an easy task -dedication, discipline, and persistence are just some of the
few aspects that are continually asked from them, adding to their workload.
Ongtangco said that
as the school year has not started, they’ve been planning projects, “I give
suggestions and help in reaching compromise. When there is a call for a
meeting, I'd certainly make time for it. “
Causing shared that
as the Chief of Staff of the Student Council, her goal was to engage more
students in staffing so they can, ‘form new friendships, gain new experiences,
and learn’.
Solomon, on the
other hand, said, “[I am usually in charge of someone who will] be
co-responsible for enforcing the constitution...be informed of the preparation
and organization and co-reserving the right of supervision, of auditions of
each House; be present during the meetings and deliberations of the Board of
Directors; co-responsible in taking
charge of the administrative affairs of each House; and co-responsible of the
advertising and promotions of their house activities and establish
intercollegiate connections along with the PRO. “.
“Last year, I was
one of PAG’s Managing Directors (Internal Vice Presidents), specifically for
House Sperare.” Justiniani told us, “As an officer in general, I would attend
meetings, pitch in ideas, create project proposals, run papers, attend events
like general assemblies, recruitment fair, community development activities,
etc, and do whatever was asked of me by the president. As the managing director
of Sperare, I would judge at auditions, oversee my workshop, micro-manage the
projects assigned to me, call for meetings for the house, as often as possible,
to maintain and/or improve the members’ vocal quality, and spend time with
them.”.
Students expect a
lot from organizations, which is why each of them continually produce content
that will appease to the student body. This can be quite gruelling, more so
when paper works are added in the mix.
When the topic was
breached, Ongtangco told us, “Therapeutic Currents wants to be more engaged
this coming school year. Aside from increasing our output, we will be
conducting workshops too.”.
Photo Credits: Maki Solomon
“Wag mag-expect, baka masaktan (joke corny)...”
Solomon laughed, before telling us the plans of PAG, “Expect our consistent presence in the
college. We have different activities planned like comdevs, workshops, and
public performances. We also expect new members, so don’t hesitate to join! PAG
is not only a place for performing arts, but also a place to learn many things,
from life lessons to academics.”.
Co-officer, Justiniani,
followed this, saying, “PAG has planned quite a number of projects this year
that I could only look forward to happening. The organization has expanded into
five houses namely Flux, Anathema, Virtuoso, Sperare, and Exolvo. With the
addition of the newer houses, definitely look forward to more performances. We
could only hope to awe you with talents. Last but not the least, expect to have
fun; it’s never a dull moment with PAG.” .
To some, it might
seem like it’s easy sailing, however, there are highs and lows that comes with
the job. It can become strenuous when you’re not at the top of your game.
Organizations do a lot. They take it upon themselves to be the meeting place
with other future professionals from the college. It is the venue wherein SLPs
can also educate our peers about the profession while enjoying a shared
passion.
“The pros of being part of the Council,” Causing shared, “will be
first you’ll meet new people, second is you can build connections with other
organizations, third is you can empower more students, fourth is that you can
hone your leadership skills and lastly is you will learn how to balance your
time. The cons will be the limited time to study especially when there is an
upcoming event but balancing your time would really help,” she added with a
laugh, “second is that it is tiring, but
at the same, time fulfilling, and lastly
is that [it gives] less time with family and friends.”
“In taking a
position, you get to interact and negotiate with people, practice teamwork,
perform tasks unfamiliar to you, and get the satisfaction of having given a
significant contribution to your school. It
may seem like work, but there is fun in it, too. Plus these are skills I have
to develop as a future SLP. The only con I see is the risk of losing the
balance between studies and orgs. I will have to manage my time wisely then!”
Ongtangco said, giving us a glimpse within her thoughts.
Solomon also added
that, “as with every other organization, it’s mostly the paperwork that can be
stressful – time consuming and sometimes hectic. But that’s nothing good
planning and time management can’t fix. The pros would be: building friendships
based on the same passions (be it our professions or performing arts) and
having another life inside the college aside from studying 24/7. Also, officers
of any organization experience behind-the-scenes of different events, and I
love witnessing and learning from that (even
though nakaka-stress minsan. Most of the time, it’s all definitely worth it).”.
Justiniani
continued, saying that, “...because it does take up time, sometimes you lose
time for your family, your friends, and even yourself. You need to make a lot of sacrifices and when you're put in difficult
situations, you get to make decisions that put you out of your comfort zone but
stick with them anyway because it's for the greater good of the
organization. In making decisions, you rarely think about yourself; you have to
think about what's best for the org all the time. Taking everything into
consideration, being an officer builds character. The decisions you make show
who you are and also shape you, both as a person and as a leader. Being a
leader trains you to manage your time and test your limits to see what you're
really capable of. It trains you in decision-making and problem-solving
situations.”
Photo Credits: Mayka Causing
Still undecided
whether to join an organization? Our passionate servant leaders provided their
own jewels of thoughts.
“SLPs should take a
more active participation in the university organizations: join the workshops,
attend events, and participate in activities you like.” Ongtangco stressed.
“For my co-SLP students,” Causing started, “you should check out the
organizations offered by our college and the university, you should explore
them because they can be [one of your] stress relievers and you can also meet
friends from different orgs and different colleges.”
Solomon followed,
“Each organization is different and may provide you with different kinds of
learning experiences. Joining at least one in your stay at the university can
be rewarding in its own ways. I say, go for it. Whether you choose wisely or go
for what your heart says. Be strong and don’t forget to have fun while you’re
here. Life isn’t meant to be confined to numbers alone.”.
“Joining orgs are
fun. If you plan on joining any, go for it! As long as you've weighed out your
pros and cons, and can balance it well with your academics, and stay committed.
And if you're thinking about which one to join, you can come join PAG and share
your talents with us!” Justiniani finished.
As a finishing
line, these officers gave their advice to other SLP students who yearns to step
up and lead.
“A school
organization is the ideal arena to train yourself. When you decide to lead, be
ready to step out of your comfort zone so that you can serve to your fullest
potential.” Ongtangco shared.
“When you have at
least one good reason to serve, even if all odds are against you, do it. It’s never a bad thing to step up
and lead.” Solomon added, “Just be sure to keep in mind the qualities of a good
leader. Regardless of that, serving as a leader is a great learning experience
itself. As you go through your years of service, you discover more reasons to
keep going and also ways to improve yourself. Just go for it! Sabi nga ng PNE,
“wag kang matakot na baka magkamali…..baka ka
maiwanan kung hindi mo susubukan”.”.
“Go ahead, don't confine yourself to just numbers and studying.” Justiniani continued, “But leadership is not easy. It's a risk not a lot of people take, and some of those who do aren't doing a good job because to them, it's not about service anymore… It can be very exhausting, but don't give up. Just give yourself the rest you need and keep going. As long as you love what you're doing and you're doing your job with integrity and discipline, it won't feel like work. For most of us, it may even be like entering a dark room without knowing what's in it. It'll lead you to uncertainty at times.” she finished, “But if you believe in yourself, in your abilities and capabilities, and most importantly have faith in God, you will go a long way.”.
“No one is born to be a leader,” Causing said, “but everyone is given the opportunity to lead, you just have to grab it and utilize every opportunity that was given to you so that you’ll have the chance to hone your leadership skills.”
In an organization, an SLP student has the opportunity to showcase an individual’s talents and the talents of the Speech-Language Pathology program. A year long commitment can be hard, but it can also be the most fruitious.
If you choose to not follow these footsteps, it will be okay. The footsteps that will be the most important in this profession are the ones we leave behind as we walk beside our future clients. This is when we truly speak, lead, and show our passion.
And that will be a road that will always matter. - by Madelyn Escario
0 comments