2007-08 IE-EMG Student Council @ halftime

I love basketball.

Not because of Kobe Bryants', LeBron James' or Steve Nashs' but because it is a beautiful exhibit of team play. Even if you have the best player in the game, one can still find himself/herself losing games if team basketball is not embraced.

Let me say upfront that my reason for this assessment of the current IE-EMG Student Council is like a locker room talk in halftime of a basketball game. The locker room talk is a time to reflect on what happened on the first half of the game (1st term and 2nd term). Dissect what went wrong (things to reflect on and change) and identify what went right (things to continue). The objective of this exercise is for adjustment so that the team can still finish strong and win the game.

So, let's start with "things to reflect on and change"

1. The key personalities of this SC have embraced the idea that they are entitled to be leaders. Please do not forgot that leadership is not entitlement. It is about results. And excellent results happen when one truly thinks, truly plans and is truly and deeply involved to see and make things happen. Excellent results comes from a painful and dedicated process. "Free lunch" does not exist here.

2. The key personalities of this SC have embraced the idea that to be intelligent is to be a leader. Please do not forget, Adolf Hitler was a very intelligent man and look at what happened? Should we count how many lives he took? Have you read Anne Frank's Diary? Intelligence must always be couple with a heart that has love for his fellow man. Look at Mahatma Gandhi or Lee Kwan Yu. Read them. Learn from them.

3. The key personalities of this SC have mixed loyalties. Some to their boyfriends. Some to their girlfriends. Some to their sleeping habits. Some to their lifestyle. Please do not forget we voluntarily chose to be in this situation. We owe it to the people who elected us and gave us the victory to give them our best. Remember, without the belief and the trust they have given us during election - would you have the right to write on your resumes that you are an elected student leader?

4. The key personalities of this SC have forgotten the power of their dreams. Common-held dreams transform an individual. Transform a group. Transform lives. Change destinies. Dreams make us better human beings.

And now, for "things to continue"

1. I have confirmed that there are two individuals within the SC that will never let it turn into a flat-out and for the books painful memory. I hope both your spirit and your hearts will be an inspiration to the half-awakes. Dumami pa sana ang lahi 'nyo = )

2. I have confirmed that when the SC see a foreboding event that's about to happen, they act accordingly.

3. I have confirmed that the SC has the ability to respond and to improve, to do things better. You truly belong to School of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management in that sense.

4. I have confirmed that there would be an excellent pool of leaders for the next Student Council. I mean, if the present junior officers will still choose to go at this painful learning experience again next year.

Lastly, please do not ever stop being a student of life and I don't mean be a college student for life. These two are continents apart = )