Motivation

We return to a time when I used to be a class president.

The rise to power was unexpected. The class was politicized: a party mate who used to be a president of another class urged her ex-classmates to nominate me. Being the elusive and highly mysterious student, I had this air of authority. Perhaps it was the reason why nobody else was nominated aside from me.

The transition to leadership was difficult. During the early months of my Presidency, I committed so many errors which probably annoyed everyone. I had to apologize left and right even for trivial matters such as assignments that were not properly disseminated or changes in schedules that didn't reach everyone. But I've learned from my mistakes and I never failed to reach out. I may have been a weak speaker (like nobody ever listened when I announced new instructions from the teacher) but the message still got through. (through "text advisories" and printed "bulletins" on the cork board)

There were times I had to intervene to the professor in behalf of the class. During finals and midterms, I had to ensure that the groups would get some breathing space before jumping into their next subject requirement. Classmates who frequently disappears in one subject receives advanced warning long before the professor decides to fail the student. Some were even able to do special projects as a last resort before getting a singko. Nobody knew who worked in their behalf. A decade later and it is still a guarded secret.

Of course, I wouldn't accomplish much if I never shared power with my Vice President. His influence over our classmates was far reaching that without his support, I would have been replaced. He saw himself as the cardinal. Even I professed my sins to him. A proud gay even at a very young age, he shaped my perception of the parloristas even up to now.

And so the batch was in harmony especially when a confidant and a highly respected Varsitarian editor was elected to the Society. Even when the entire Student Council was highly entrenched in a bitter political squabble, our major was spared from the infighting. We had our own happy world and I guess our successes should be attributed to the principle of pakikisama.

Nobody gets left behind.

We remember, for it is the same principle I still follow up to now. Agents work better when their leaders reach out. They are driven to perform better when rewards-based motivation is applied. They feel accomplished when being praised for their good work. And most of all, they become loyal when they know you have put your trust in them.

Most of the agents I trained were highly accomplished in their tasks. Records won't deny and their successes used to drive me to perform better.

But now that support is eroding from the higher people I rely for confidence.

I feel that my days are finally numbered.