The student refers to the global youth who are blatantly confronted with challenges on making sense of scores, and at times, disarrayed experiences and information. These are students who, because of modern technology and acquisitive culture, are challenged to find context in too much content and find meaning in too many experiences. In the midst of dealing with these challenges, they are first and foremost young and vibrant learners who work for excellence especially in their studies.

The advocate points to the person who engages in raising awareness of a situation, a practice, or a policy that brings about injustice as perceived and experienced by the poor. Taking the lense of the poor is done not out of sheer knowledge but out of direct involvement, to be in solidarity with them. Furthermore, the advocate moves the self and the others to carry out a proactive action that is based on objective information, sound decision, and careful plan of action. The advocate’s whole experience is embedded in a conscientious analysis and synthesis of the context, experience, reflection, action and evaluation in hopes of deliberately living out the discipline of ‘contemplative in action’.

The leader connotes a person who practices leadership as a lifestyle. The leader is someone who brings out the core goodness of the self and of others, builds meaningful relationship, and inspires others to become better. This leader breathes in humility to live with the truth and to live with what is real. Veritas liberabit vos.

To review, the ideal student is someone who has competence (I am a student), conscience (I am an advocate), and commitment (I am a leader). Indeed, with this thrust, a work in progress is a student who values education as tool for self and social development, an advocate whose advocacy is prompted by faith, and a leader whose leadership is dynamic and inspiring. With creativity and depth, this student-advocate-leader continues to ask why and persists to make a difference.

Image by David Boyle via Flickr