#NEWS | Stepping up: SC hosts first student leadership summit
By Aldrich Ty
The Philippine Science High School — Main Campus (PSHS–MC) held its first leadership summit for student leaders from all sections, batches, and clubs last February 22.
The event was filled with activities and seminars headed by guest leaders and organizations, including Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
The summit was conceptualized by Ma’am Diana Sarenas, adviser of the Student Council (SC), as a way to give students the opportunity to be trained as leaders.
In her opening remarks, she expressed that she wants the leadership summit to be continued in the future, with it being open to all students.
“In the coming years, we will open it to everyone who is interested in joining leadership training,” said Sarenas.
Belmonte then gave her keynote speech, sharing her experiences in becoming a leader and the traits she believes are necessary to being one.
“Leaders must have three things: courage, integrity, and the ability to listen and be heard,” Belmonte listed.
She also stressed the importance of building connections with and empathy for the people.
“You cannot lead if the people you are leading do not trust you.”
Finally, she urged the scholars in the audience to take action in the future as leaders for the betterment of the country.
“Kung hindi kayo ang gagawa [ng tama], kayo na pinakamatalino at pinakamagaling na bata, sino pa?”
(“If you will not do [what is right], [you who are] the smartest and most talented of the youth, who else?”)
This sentiment was shared by the next speaker, Ma’am Kathlyn Pike, a Pasig City teacher co-heading her school’s Giftedness Instruction for Talent Development program, which offers preschool to college students the opportunity to practice various talents and skills.
Pike expressed in her speech the importance of putting words and ideas into actions. She ended with a reminder to keep one’s beliefs as a leader anchored to the core of what drives them to be leaders.
“The only constant in ourselves is our core. Makaka-lead ka lang kung alam mo kung sino ka at kung anong nagda-drive sa’yo to lead. . . . Meron kayong sariling core, so the thing should be: lead with the core and lead from the core,” Pike stated.
(“The only constant in ourselves is our core. You can lead only if you know who you are and what drives you to lead. . . . You have your own core, so the thing should be: lead with the core and lead from the core.” )
After a brief promotion of PSHS–MC’s exchange programs by Sir Mark Lopez of the Filipino Unit, alumni of the school’s SC shared their experiences in a panel Q&A discussion.
When asked about their experience in working with the students’ parents, they emphasized the relevance of teamwork and support between leaders and those they worked with.
Additionally, on building relationships with others in the SC, the leaders highlighted the need to not be afraid of working with those who have seniority in age and experience.
“Do not be afraid of seniority; treat [your co-leaders] as equals but never cross boundaries,” remarked former SC president Karl Bueser.
The remaining portions of the summit were spearheaded by the Youth Huddle, an organization dedicated to youth leadership training from the Ateneo De Manila University.
The Youth Huddle hosted various games aiming to build teamwork, communication, and leadership for the participants, with processing and reflection on what it means to be a leader done afterwards.
To conclude the day, Nissi Palada, the current SC president, gave words of encouragement to the attendees as future leaders in PSHS–MC.
“I want to leave you with this: I believe in you. . . . I trust each and every one of you to be the kind of leaders who care deeply about our student body and who will stand up for what’s right.”
