06/08/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐ฟ๐ด ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐
โWow, ni-join kag org? Student leader ka no?โ
โNo, itโs just for the clout,โ they sayโthen laugh, as if itโs something to be proud of.
And just like that, the very essence of student leadership gets reduced to a trend, a flex, a personal brand.
Weโre now in an era where being part of a student organization is no longer just about passion or purpose. Itโs about being seen. Itโs about crafting an image. Itโs about clout.
Letโs not sugarcoat it. Some students sign up for orgs not because they genuinely care about the mission, but because they care about recognition. They want to be tagged in the next Facebook post, featured in the next campus publication, or have a title that sounds good in their bio. Itโs not leadership anymore, itโs branding.
And the worst part? Itโs starting to become the standard. Mas sikat ka, mas โleaderโ ka. Mas active ka sa social media, mas โinvolvedโ ka. But where are you when itโs time to work? To plan? To serve?
In many universities and colleges in the Philippines, some student councils and publications have observed a spike in โghost membersโโthose who join for the name but rarely participate in legwork or planning, only reappearing for general assemblies, photoshoots, or certificate-worthy events. This isnโt just anecdotal.
In March 2025, SunStar Cebu published an article titled โDauntless Spirit Against Clout Leadership,โ calling out student leaders who chase popularity but fall short in responsibility, highlighting the rise of performative participation masked as leadership. Similarly, a June 2025 article by Pressroom Philippines titled โClout Leadership is Still a Thingโ criticized the growing number of org members who โshow up loudly when the cameraโs on but are nowhere to be found when itโs time to actually get the work done.โ These examples reflect a deeper issue: when visibility becomes the goal, true service suffers.
This trend doesnโt just harm individual growth; it weakens the whole organization. When orgs are filled with clout chasers instead of changemakers, the vision gets blurry. The output becomes superficial. And the culture? Toxic.
Being in an organization isnโt about attending events for photo ops or wearing your org shirt like a trophy. Itโs about commitment, accountability, and actual contribution. Leadership is not a look, itโs a responsibility.
Thereโs nothing wrong with celebrating your involvement. Public acknowledgment can be empowering and inspiring. But when your reason for joining is just to boost your image, then youโre not serving the org, youโre using it. And the ones who suffer are the passionate members who carry the real weight while others bask in borrowed glory.
So, before you sign up, ask yourself: Is it for the cause, or just for the clout?
Because at the end of the day, titles fade. Likes disappear. But the legacy you build, the people you empower, the lives you uplift, the values you uphold, thatโs what defines a real leader.
Itโs not the number of org shirts you wear. Itโs not the filtered photos. Itโs not the applause.
Clout may get you noticed, but purpose is what makes you unforgettable.
So, choose to lead, not to be liked.
Choose to serve, not to be seen.
Because leadership isnโt about being known, itโs about making a difference.
Written by ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐พ๐๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ก๐ค
Graphics by ๐พ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ง๐๐ค๐ก
