Monday, March 19, 2007 Sharing one vision, passion and ice cream By Elisabeth “Lis” Baumgart AYLC 2007 - Isatayo
IT’S a puzzle just waiting to be solved.
With that, another group of promising young student leaders set foot in the San Miguel Corporation - Management Training Center in Alfonso, Cavite. Seventy-four student leaders from all over the Philippines, sharing the same vision and passion of becoming nation builders of the present and the future (and solving the ice cream mystery).
This year’s AYLC congress theme was “Leading in challenging times”, which tackled serious discussions on “Serving the Country: For here or to go”; “Solving the peace puzzle” and “Media: Facing challenging times”.
“The first challenge is to believe that no matter how young you are, you can make a difference,” stresses Simon Mossesgeld, the congress director and consultant for youth programs of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Center for Leadership.
In between plenary sessions, fun and difficult challenge courses (the word "challenge" itself spells out difficult already) and workshop group discussions, delegates were able to mingle with alumni of the past congresses and with the "philanthropreneur" himself, Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, his brother Fernando Zobel de Ayala and their father Jaime Zobel de Ayala, over buffet meals. And let’s not forget, ice cream.
“Leadership is about turning a vision into a reality and getting people to share that same mindset with you, share that vision and share that passion,” says John Philip Orbeta, Program Adviser of the AYLC 2007.
Now that the congress is over, work is not yet done for these young student leaders. It’s only the beginning. Their paths are set, their visions are clearer and their hearts are ablaze with passio–plus, all are a few pounds heavier because of the increase in food intake.
And the ice cream secret? As aptly put by one workshop group, leadership is like an ice cream cone. By removing the wrapper, you get out of your comfort zone. It’s sweet and tastes great, but sometimes things go wrong and you end up with ice cream all over your face. But in the end, once you get to the best part–the chocolate tip–it’s all worth it.
“Being part of the congress was really fun and exciting. You get to know other people, you get to experience new things. There’s a sense of belongingness. It’s like what was said in our letters: we dream together, we make a vision together,” shares Anthony Kent “Jabz” Borja from the John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation.
Yes, belongingness. Seventy-four young student leaders are all in this together. They share a same vision, a same goal. And they call themselves Isatayo–Ikaw. Sila. Ako. Tayo.
