NWU Inauguration 2022: 428 Students take Oath
Leadership is not just a responsibility to fulfill, but, a one-of-a-kind opportunity to touch other’s lives, to inspire, to influence, to empower, to be the voice of the minority, and more importantly, to make a change. It is a multifaceted role that requires a heart that is courageous, willing to commit and ready to serve.
The Northwestern University Inauguration 2022: Oath Taking Ceremony was held on September 27, 2022 at Aquino Multi-purpose Center, where a total of 428 student leaders, from the different college and department organizations took their oath. Prof. Gregoria S. Najorda, Vice President for Academic Affairs, expressed her warm congratulatory message to the student leaders who have bravely accepted the challenge to lead.
She started her message with the brilliant proverbs of King Solomon found in Ecclesiastes 11:4, emphasizing that the time to make a change and action is now. Prof. Najorda reminded the student leaders that although leadership is to lead and to be the model, they should not forget that they also have to follow.
“We lead our constituents to do what we ought to implement, to show your constituents what is expected from you but show them also to obey policies and guidelines,” she stated. Prof. Najorda added that they should set some rules, learn to compromise and learn to communicate. But they have to always wear a humble heart,” she extended.
The guest speaker and the inducting officer of the said event was Ms. Raisa Neith G. Salvador, the current Project Manager of the low-carbon transportation project of the United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines. She worked as a Development Worker with nine years of experience with the Department of Social Welfare and Development as a Project Development Officer and Project Manager.
Ms. Salvador gave a powerful inspirational speech focusing not just about leadership but also about life. Being a former student-leader, Ms. Salvador has always believed that she was made for public service and development work. However, within her nine years of being a part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), she realized that the development work in the Philippines is not perfect because of countless roadblocks. Nevertheless, she chose to stay because she loved what she was doing and hoped that she could change the system.
Mentioning one of her favorite professors, Emilia Boncodin, she emphasized that the student-leaders should believe in kindness. Ms. Salvador reminded the student-leaders that it is their responsibility to step-up and make better decisions as well as be neutral in times of injustice and oppression. She encouraged the student-leaders to continue asking uncomfortable questions, reading credible sources, learning from their teachers and people who they look up to, as well as unlearning archaic mindsets that were passed on to them.
“I want you to still believe in goodness, both in the world and its people, at kung wala na po kayong makitang mabuti sa mundong ito, eh, baka naman, puwedeng kayo na lang ang maging mabuti para sa mundong ito,” she concluded, as she highlighted that despite the injustice and oppression in this world, there is still kindness.
The oath-taking ceremony was led by Jezreel Larry R. Caunca, the Supreme Student Council President. He inspired his fellow student-leaders by sharing a glimpse of his 7-year leadership student journey. Throughout his leadership journey, he experienced victories and defeats. Mr. Caunca emphasized that despite the failures in his leadership journey, his willingness to serve the studentry kept him moving and looked for another way to serve the students in a different capacity. He said that his leadership journey for the past seven years is not all about him, but it is about serving other people.
“We are not elected just to party or do vlogs, we are elected to represent our fellow students, to propose and implement sustainable project, we owe it to the students who trusted us,” he stated as he swore that the Student Supreme Council will truly represent the students and will give their best to be the partners of the student-leaders for positive change.
Also, an awarding ceremony was done for the donors of the Angat Abra Donation Drive that was held on August 12, 2022, at San Quintin Abra.
A total of eleven (11) NWU college and department organizations that were awarded: College of Arts and Sciences Student Organization (CASSO), Philippine Society of Health and Technology Students-Northwestern University Chapter (PHISMETS), College of Business Education Student Organization (COBESO), NWU Debate Society, AFS-NWU, Cadets from the College of Maritime Education, Young Educators Society, United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary NWU, Association of Junior Hospitality and Tourism Operators, Civil Engineering Student Organization and Federation of Allied Health Sciences Students.
The program ended with a closing remark from Prof. Agustina A. Dancel-Matias, Dean of the Office of Student Affairs. She encouraged the student-leaders to guide their fellow students and be the exemplar of CHAMPS.
“Be the Northwesternian champions that we could be, not only for today but for the future, because our present will be tomorrow’s history and will definitely be a crucial ingredient for our future,” she concluded.
