HOLT 2024: Striking the Balance in Leadership
By: Milo Enriquez
As the St. Paul Activity Center for Excellence (SPACE) filled to the brim with officers hailing from the different sections and organizations, the path to success and camaraderie was paved for our student leaders last October 9, 2024.
“LIONHEART: Embracing the Pride Within,” the SCT-organized High School Officer’s Leadership Training (HOLT), allowed the High School Department’s officers to hone their teamwork and leadership skills through a series of activities that challenged and developed their capability for communication, quick-thinking, and problem-solving.
Throughout the event, there was a heavy emphasis placed on narratives, snippets from The Lion King that exemplify the different qualities and abilities expected of a good leader. These narratives focus on Crisis Management and Communication, Self-discovery, Confidence and Relationships between officers, and Embracing Responsibility.
Narratives are accompanied by commentary from the event’s emcees — Jia Buerano and Myly Maagma, acting as HOLT’s very own Pumbaa and Timon — presented between activities, giving the officers time to absorb their meaning and its relevance to their positions.
“We are all connected in the great circle of life, they say. So, I stand here today not as one, but as [part of] a community of compassionate and hardworking individuals,” SCT President Chleo Toledo began, kicking off the event with her opening remarks. Through her speech, she placed importance on community and collaboration amongst leaders to achieve new heights for the betterment of those they swore to serve. She also highlighted the need for passion despite any and all odds.
Following Toledo was an insightful talk by Sam Apilado, the former SCT President for School Year 2020–2021. She is currently a member of the UP Economics Society, acting as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Programs Director of the National Economics Summit. Apilado spoke of the hardships that accompanied being a student leader and the worth that stems from overcoming them, citing leadership as “the greatest payoff.”
The activities commenced soon after, starting with a group activity containing organization-specific worksheets that provided the officers with challenging scenarios they must address and solve. The homeroom officers of each batch were also provided a set of words they must arrange to form a line about leadership from The Lion King. Alongside testing their understanding of their positions, the activity aimed to stimulate the officers’ ability to effectively communicate and solve problems.
Afterwards, random groups were formed through assigned numbers; these groups were tasked with conceptualizing and presenting a creative introduction that showcased the goals, beliefs, and ideologies that the student leaders wished to exemplify and leave behind after their terms. What followed was a series of equally comedic, creative, and inspiring performances from the different combined LIFE, GIFT, and Organizational officer groups. They effectively represented the joy, creativity, and bravery that came with taking up any leadership position.
After a brief lunch break, the same groups were brought together to participate in an Amazing Race. Officers were allowed to let their competitive spirit and determination shine as they raced to finish the different booths stationed around the venue. These booths contained a variety of activities that acted as an effective culmination of all the different leadership qualities and values that the training and narratives seeked the officers to uphold.
To cap off the event, the officers who’d accomplished the race worked together in order to synthesize all they have learned through a unique, creative reflection — be it through art, poetry, music, or writing.
As opposed to previous years, the homeroom and GIFT officers’ leadership training were merged into one, with the inclusion of organizational officers.
“By including them all, it will be easier for them to merge together and work together in terms of other projects, as we teach and instill in them the same values,” Cheska Dorotan, Grade 8 Batch Representative and one of HOLT’s project heads, stated; explaining the greater impact of merging the two projects.
“For me, leadership training helps students realize their potential — and it’s not only potential to [hold] these positions, but the potential to serve their fellow schoolmates. It helps them realize that the position they hold is not just a title, but it’s really a responsibility,” SCT Secretary and one of HOLT’s project heads, Rye Dueñas said.
As the event came to a close, LIONHEART: Embracing the Pride Within had successfully achieved its goal of not only enhancing our student leaders’ skills and capabilities, but fostering their community and collective passion for serving the student body.
The High School officers left with a stronger sense of purpose and dedication to their positions, promising a bright future for their respective sections, centers, and organizations. This event left its mark on these officers, much like these officers will leave their mark on this school through their terms.
