23/09/2026
๐ง๐ช๐ข ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฆ, ๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ: ๐ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ
Two days. Two different experiences. One meaningful reminder: leadership is not only about leading othersโit is also about learning, connecting, experiencing, and allowing ourselves to simply be human.
The ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐น-๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐บ gave us two days filled with conversations, realizations, laughter, and experiences that went beyond the usual discussions about leadership.
On the first day, we were reminded that leadership comes with responsibility, but it should also come with empathy. We learned that behind every position is a person who also gets tired, struggles, makes mistakes, and needs to be understood. The theme โ๐ง๐ผ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ปโ encouraged us to pause from the demands of leadership and remember the person behind the title.
More importantly, we were reminded that we're ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ. Leadership is not determined by age, but by our willingness to step forward, take responsibility, learn from others, and make a difference in whatever capacity we can.
The โ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ป: ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒโ activity was one of the moments that made this message even more meaningful. Through simple words and messages, we were reminded that sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can mean so much to someone who needs it.
Then came Day 2โa different kind of learning.
We travelled to ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐, where learning happened outside the four walls of a classroom or seminar room. We visited the ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ and witnessed the craftsmanship and culture behind the instruments. We also got the opportunity to experience brass making, something that made us appreciate even more the patience, skill, and dedication required to create something by hand.
Trying to work with clay and create details ourselves humbled us. What seemed simple at first was actually far from easy. In just one sitting, we realized that craftsmanship is not something that can simply be mastered overnightโit is built through years of practice, patience, and passion.
And, of course, Day 2 was also about creating memories. From experiencing the beauty of Lake Sebu to taking risks, meeting new people, sharing stories, laughing together, and even trying the ๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ, we were reminded that leadership also means being willing to step outside our comfort zones.
These experiences allowed us to see leadership from another perspective. Sometimes, the most meaningful lessons are not found in presentations or lectures, but in the people we meet, the culture we encounter, the things we try for the first time, and the moments that make us stop and appreciate where we are.
After two days, we may not have all the answers about what it means to be a leader. But we are leaving with something just as important: a deeper understanding that before we become leaders, we are human beings first.
We lead with purpose.
We serve with empathy.
We learn from others.
We appreciate where we come from.
And we continue to growโnot just as leaders, but as people.
Perhaps that is what it truly means ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป. ๐ค
๐๏ธ Jade Patigdas
๐ท Jade Patigdas & Bagwis
MSU GenSan Office of Student Development Services
