By Veronica G Nacaytuna

(This piece is a personal reflection of the writer on life’s challenges particularly on student leadership and synergy after attending the Find X Project, a fundraising leadership congress on February 21 with powerhouse speakers Howie Severino, Meryl Grace Agudelo, Naderev Madla Saño, Marita Ann Enriquez and Sabrina Ongkiko. We are publishing it in full.)

Seeking our purpose in life is a constant journey. I am a seeker of truth, yet I admit I’m quite apathetic of the reality. At the start of 2015, crazy things had happened to me. To begin with, I am just a typical engineering student who strives to finish requirements on time, doing home works and studies for examinations. Yes, I have been part of the student council as the treasurer and then, I was appointed to be the president for two months which I have deemed as the crucial part of that year—and things changed.

Imagine, from treasurer to president? A big jump! I don’t have any background in leading except for class group works. I don’t have any idea how to run a student council.  I literally freaked out!  So, I was trying to reflect on it. Is this a calling? Why are these things happening to me? Is this an answer to my searching? And I realized that every step of the way is a puzzle piece that I need to complete in order to see the big picture. I have been collecting these puzzle pieces for quite some time and this presidency occupies the biggest chunk of those pieces. Because of it, I was linked to Engineering Resource Center (ERC) for a certain project. There, I found a door towards reality. Only at ERC I found the importance and necessity of engineers to the local communities. Only at ERC, I found a reason why I took up engineering. Indeed, another piece of the puzzle.

Along with my new journey, an opportunity turned up with an event called the “Finding X Project.” I was stunned by all of the speakers from the different sectors: education, disaster risk reduction management, social entrepreneurship, social media, and youth empowerment. They have shared so many ideas, inspiring stories, tips and encouragement all in one day and 3 points have hit me the most:

Passion for a better change. A lot of people can say that they wanted change; not all can be the pioneers of change. Change does not have to be something big. It could happen to a certain small community, to a family or even to you. It’s change that catalyzes a man to awaken and use his full potential.

Believe that you can be part of change.  Public speaker and public school teacher Sabrina Ongkiko said “Mahirap maging magaling, pero mas mahirap maging mabait (It is difficult to be great but it’s harder to be kind).” Better change comes from a compassionate and pure heart. I realized that it takes so much empathy for you to initiate change for the community and it is never easy.

All must collaborate—the key is synergy.  As what seasoned journalist Howie Severino said “You are the most empowered generation in history. With your power and free time, what will you do?” I was struck by his question. I spent most of my time in social media which delays my requirements. But, what does the Internet and social media bring? With the Internet, there is a high opportunity to allow everyone to be connected. With this tool, it is easy to initiate a certain change.

From all the puzzle pieces I have collected, I partially found my purpose that is “to evolve myself for the betterment of humanity.” Maybe the reason I need to become a president is in order to develop leadership, to pioneer change. Maybe the reason I encountered a lot of challenges is because I need to enlarge my heart to be compassionate—and I found ERC to learn how to collaborate and communicate even better.  Still, I don’t have a concrete solution, but at least I’m on my way. I believe that the poorest person is not without money, but without purpose.

Without purpose, the only thing a man can do is to grow older.