I just finished writing this 10 minutes before 2009 ended... I hope that someone would give feedbacks on this. :/ Thank you in advance!
Prompt: Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.
Since second grade, I have represented my class as one of their class officers. I have experienced substituting for our class adviser, acting as the "class police," and even speaking in behalf of my class in a school administrative meeting. In my second year in Student Council (SC), I ran for office in another election. Being voted as the SC Treasurer, I have stepped into a pool of opportunities.
One of those opportunities came on September 2007. I, together with my SC constituents, participated in a Democracy Camp spearheaded by University of Asia and the Pacific's Institute of Political Economy. Student government has interested me since elementary, but not until on that three-day camp when I realized how different it is in the real world of politics. As one of the guest speaker talked about deeper issues facing Philippine democracy, I have been thinking: "Would I be like those politicians in the future-politicians who are corrupt, unrepresentative, and authoritarian?" Throughout the camp, I have talked to students like me who have envisioned themselves in the real world, guiding people in a democratic nation. Since the program gave immersive training to the students, we were able to delve into profound discussions. After the camp, I went home with more insights in the critical roles of the leaders in a nation where political development has been a problem. Since then, the topic of political leadership has sparked in me.
Today, as I am in a new land, I come across different leaders from different backgrounds, each having their own political insights. Because of my experience in the camp, I have now become more aware of the leadership qualities and aspects that I portray. It is from there where I will continue my footsteps towards the world of my own leadership.
Prompt: Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.
Since second grade, I have represented my class as one of their class officers. I have experienced substituting for our class adviser, acting as the "class police," and even speaking in behalf of my class in a school administrative meeting. In my second year in Student Council (SC), I ran for office in another election. Being voted as the SC Treasurer, I have stepped into a pool of opportunities.
One of those opportunities came on September 2007. I, together with my SC constituents, participated in a Democracy Camp spearheaded by University of Asia and the Pacific's Institute of Political Economy. Student government has interested me since elementary, but not until on that three-day camp when I realized how different it is in the real world of politics. As one of the guest speaker talked about deeper issues facing Philippine democracy, I have been thinking: "Would I be like those politicians in the future-politicians who are corrupt, unrepresentative, and authoritarian?" Throughout the camp, I have talked to students like me who have envisioned themselves in the real world, guiding people in a democratic nation. Since the program gave immersive training to the students, we were able to delve into profound discussions. After the camp, I went home with more insights in the critical roles of the leaders in a nation where political development has been a problem. Since then, the topic of political leadership has sparked in me.
Today, as I am in a new land, I come across different leaders from different backgrounds, each having their own political insights. Because of my experience in the camp, I have now become more aware of the leadership qualities and aspects that I portray. It is from there where I will continue my footsteps towards the world of my own leadership.
