SOCA aims to connect the student leaders to the whole population of ESSUnians in the delivery of information regarding the activities held during the school year and to make mention of the different achievements that these leaders have purposefully accomplished during their term of office.
The president of the SSC-TSG, Mr. Rannie Operario welcomed everyone on his speech and reiterated the importance of leadership among students. Being the mother organization, Mr. Operario relayed the sacrifices that had been made in order to fulfill a leader’s duty and the hardships that were encountered starting from the elections, up until the realization of projects and activities, undergoing the process of approval in the administration. Mr. Operario also stressed on the different qualities of leaders that holds the most importance in achieving the organization’s goals and objectives. “We aim to invigorate the students’ capacity to transform vision into reality.” – Ranie Operario
He mentioned that a leader should be futuristic in his vision and develops a sense of integrity, as a person who will deal with a lot of people from different brackets in the university society. He further elaborated self-confidence, commitment, creativity and communication skills as important characteristics in becoming a person to guide his subordinates. Added to this list of characteristics are self-awareness and adaptability, decision-making, openness, and understanding. Notable highlighted abilities that the SSC president has mentioned is the ability to inspire and motivate, also managing the organizational change which focuses on the innate value of a leader in performing duties towards a community of students and going over and beyond in achieving the goals of an institution in the name of selfless public service.
Finally, Mr. Operario thanked everyone who had helped him in realizing the dreams of the organization, a big chunk of the gratitude going to the amiable, active and productive adviser, Mrs. Marcelle Badillo, whose support and guidance has never wavered in the face of obstructions.
The SOCA was concluded with an open forum with the students writing their questions on pieces of papers and handing them to the emcees to be asked to the respective person who holds interest and supervision of a specific issue. Each of the presidents accepted and wholeheartedly answered the questions thrown at them with grace and utmost knowledge, giving the most relative solution to problems that the students are raising.
As the event was successfully launched, the SOCA will become a yearly celebration, giving the leaders an opportunity to bridge the gap of misconceptions. It is a venue to prove their worth as elected officials of their respective organizations and a way to inform all ESSUnians that ESSU student leaders, especially the SSC-TSG officers, are always on the go, giving life to its tagline – Build. Unite. Transform.
