Last February 5, 2024, SISC student leaders—class council and club officers from both VOLT and Face-to-Face modes of learning—took part in the Outdoor Workshop on Leadership (OWL) held in the Tropical Gym, which focused on allowing the students to "tap into their abilities to foster a positive environment by creating a culture of inclusive leadership."
This year’s OWL had the theme “Inclusive Leadership for a School of Internationalism.” Together, the SISC Basic Ed and IB Student Councils organized the event to include reflective collaborative activities, as well as speaker talks, revolving around inclusivity and a leader’s responsibility to nurture it within the community. VOLT participants attended through a Google Meet link broadcasting the event.
HUMSS Strand Coordinator Sir Joseph Aristotle Gregorio took center stage in his introductory remarks, saying, “In a world with rising diversity, we must unravel the essence of inclusive leadership and uncover its profound impact. . . . Together, we shall unlock our potential [as leaders] to live with a heart full of inclusivity and open-mindedness.”
Following this, an icebreaker activity kicked off the event. Attendees were first directed to leave their seats and engage in a quick The-Boat-Is-Sinking game, forming groups of 10. With groups in place, gamemasters Basic Ed Vice President Minyoung Kim and Grade 10 Level Representative Joshua Santos initiated a game of Guess the Tune wherein each team raced to discern the titles of the song instrumentals being played. Later on, students took a 10-minute recess.
To speak on and promote inclusivity, Basic Ed and IB Student Council Presidents Una Villano and Woosung Cho took the stage for a lecture on the event theme. They highlighted, “Inclusivity helps develop a sense of belonging and ensures that every voice is heard.” Alongside this, they remarked on the responsibility of student leaders to develop inclusivity around the school.
The program then shortly transitioned into the Garden Activity. Assembling once again in their respective icebreaker teams, each member was provided with materials to draw or create a plant that represents them, ranging from flowers, ferns, and succulents. They were then tasked with collaging their individual plants together. This activity was used to emphasize the importance of diversity, as each plant is unique and requires different forms of care to thrive.
Each group then took turns presenting their created gardens and bouquets, celebrating the inclusivity in each collage. They highlighted the idea that it is not appropriate to water each plant the same amount, as some may need more or less in order to grow and flourish. Just as each plant requires different care, each individual has unique needs. What is considered "just right" varies per person.
Guest Speaker of the OWL, SISC Alumni Mr. Nicolas James, addressed the audience in his speech on the meaning of inclusivity. He emphasized, “To be inclusive is to create a sense of belongingness. According to a concept in psychology, Erik Erikson recognizes that at the age you are at, we are at a point of social development—[we are] developing our identity."
Then, Mr. James shared insights from his own experiences, as a research and development executive, on the financial struggles faced by students from single-parent households. He emphasized the importance of confronting the challenges encountered by individuals who have felt the weight of their parents' financial burdens while striving for a quality education. He explained that the goal was to foster a sense of belonging within the community, regardless of individual differences. Stressing the significance of trust in leadership, he noted that people tend to gravitate towards leaders who are transparent, and he further elaborated on how our identities are shaped by the relationships and communities we are a part of.
Towards the end of his speech, he identified three elements in promoting inclusivity: encouragement, teaching, and celebration. Respectively, leaders must embrace individuality and create a space where people feel safe to be who they are, recognize that positive changes aren’t limited to their actions and that a community flourishes even better when all its members can act with inclusivity, and celebrate the diversity among individuals and find the good in difference.
The event concluded with the remarks of Basic Ed Student Council Coordinator Mr. John Kenny Bautista wherein he proudly acknowledged that the number of participants has tripled in quantity compared to last year's OWL. Finally, he expressed his anticipation and hope of witnessing the student leaders evolve into movers of society.