Entry XII: Peace and Order
It was a brand new week, and I found myself back in the rhythm of student leadership again. One of the very first problems I had to solve wasn't something major like a university-wide event or coordinating a department activity. It was more basic but equally essential—my attendance sheet had finally run out.
Rather than simply printing the same template again, I took this as an opportunity to improve it. I remembered how, during one of our mayoral meetings, I caught a glimpse of the attendance sheet format used by the admin. I had taken mental notes of how neat and systematic it looked, and how much more efficient it was compared to our previous one.
So I sat down and began to design a new format, taking cues from the admin's style. On the header, I proudly typed: "Samtoy del Sur State University, College of Engineering, BSCE 1-Roebling." I ensured it was bold and centered—a formal start to what I hoped would be a well-utilized document. Instead of having students write their full names every single time, I listed all of their names already, starting with their first names followed by their surnames, making it more convenient and faster to manage. I added a column solely for signatures, but I also left enough space next to each name for instructors to write remarks like "Absent" or "Excused."
It was a small thing, but I felt a sense of pride in improving the system. I was learning that leadership didn't always have to come in the form of grand speeches or huge decisions. Sometimes, it was about finding better ways to do simple things.
Later that day, I was organizing my documents—attendance sheets, seat plans, and some project drafts—when I noticed a commotion nearby. I looked up and saw Bailey and Yair in a heated discussion. My first instinct was to let them be; after all, it seemed like a personal matter. But then I overheard a familiar phrase: "People and Earth Ecosystems Assignment."
That was our subject.
At that moment, I gathered enough courage to walk over and politely interrupt. "Hey guys, sorry to cut in. What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound calm and neutral.
Bailey immediately turned to me, still visibly flustered. "We're just trying to figure out where we're supposed to write the assignment for People and Earth Ecosystems," he said.
"Yeah," Yair chimed in, crossing his arms. "Bailey says it's on a one whole white paper. But I swear, I heard it was supposed to be on an index card."
I nodded thoughtfully and took my phone out. It wasn't worth arguing over. I decided to message Engr. Lobel directly for clarification.
Within just a few minutes, I got a response: "Yellow Pad."
I looked up from my phone and grinned sheepishly. "Well, looks like you were both wrong. Engr. Lobel says it's on a Yellow Pad."
Both of them burst into laughter, and the tension dissipated. Another problem solved, even if it was a minor one.
Later that afternoon, our class group chat lit up with a message from Sir Valerio. He apologized for not being able to attend class due to some office work and requested that I handle the attendance and submit it to him at the faculty office.
I took my updated attendance sheet out of my folder and wrote my name at the top. As I was doing this, Bailey came up to sign next, but chaos quickly ensued. Since we were waiting for our classroom slot in the hallway—because another class was still using our designated room—everyone started crowding around me to sign.
It was overwhelming.
I tried to stay calm but assertive. "Guys, can we please line up? Let's go to the vacant room just around the corner. It'll be easier that way."
Some obeyed, others not so much, but eventually, we managed to bring some order to the situation. At least enough to get everyone to sign without damaging the paper or losing track of who signed and who didn't.
Once it was done, I walked to the faculty office to submit the attendance to Sir Valerio. I could feel the fatigue beginning to settle in my bones, but it was satisfying to know I had managed to do my part.
As the week progressed, I noticed a pattern emerging. More and more classmates began approaching me with questions. Whether it was about a project, assignment, or submission schedule, they came to me hoping I could provide clarity. And for a while, I did.
But the volume was increasing. I was balancing leadership duties, academic responsibilities, and now informal clarification services. It was starting to take a toll. I realized I couldn't do everything for everyone.
So I began redirecting some of them. "That's something you should probably clarify with the teacher directly," I would say. It wasn't that I didn't want to help, but sometimes, the best help was pointing people to the right source.
Still, the guilt lingered a bit. I liked being the reliable one, the go-to person. But I had to remind myself that delegation and boundaries were just as important.
One evening, while reviewing my documents and updating our group chat with announcements, I paused to reflect. It had been a whirlwind of responsibilities, but I was learning so much about communication, patience, and resourcefulness.
Even something as simple as redesigning an attendance sheet taught me that there is always room for improvement and innovation. Clarifying a debate between classmates reminded me that leadership includes being the bridge to accurate information. And organizing a chaotic attendance line showed me that assertiveness and calm can go a long way in maintaining order.
I might not be rich in money, as some people seem to assume just because I can regularly pay tricycle fares and organize things with efficiency. But I am rich in experience, and maybe even richer in lessons learned.
And that, I believe, counts for something big.
I closed my folder, leaned back, and allowed myself a few moments of rest. The work would never fully end, but at least I was getting better at handling it.
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and then Add to home screen.