SACRIFICE OVER SUCCESS: THE UNTOLD STORIES OF STUDENT LEADERS

A Research Presented to
The Research Committee
General Academic Strand
Atty. Orlando S. Rimando National High School

In Partial Fulfilment
Of the Requirements for the Strand
General Academic Strand

ALCASID, ANALIE G.
DURAN, SOLANGE BIA V.
LAURENCIANA, JASMIN S.
SAMUYA, JOVELYN

JANUARY 2020
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Student leadership development at high schools, colleges, and universities has

been a primary concern of student affairs practitioners for many years. Leadership

training programs and seminar have been created as ways to enhance the leadership

abilities of student leaders. Student leadership has traditionally focused on students

involved in such leadership roles as student government officers, residence hall officers,

fraternity and sorority members, student paraprofessionals and members of various

recognized student organizations. Part of that importance is that the connection

between successful student leadership and post-academic success. Students are

routinely encouraged to become Student Leaders in the Classroom to active in student

organizations, residence halls, community service, and organized athletics as a way to

build leadership skills and enhance their marketability in a competitive world.

The Public Secondary Schools in Kirinyaga East Sub-County, Kenya, There are

many reasons advanced about why student councils should be promoted. The main

arguments stem firmly from the changing attitudes towards children and young people

in society, and the increasing need to encourage and promote youth participation.

Empirical evidence that exists demonstrates the positive aspects of student councils.

These are, assistance in management, improving staff and student relationships,

reduction in indiscipline cases, unrests in schools and improved performance in both

academic and co-curricular programs (UNICEF/KSSHA, 2013).

The University of Northern Philippines is adept to its delivery of students service

for the exploration, enhancement and deepening of the students full potential for

personal development, leadership skills and social responsibility through various

institutional and/or student –initiated activities (CMO 21, Series of 2006, Section 6.2,

Article III and Section 23, Article VI). Through time, the University has spotlighted

student endeavors. The creation of student organizations paved way for student leaders

as active partners of the institution in its programs for student welfare and

development. Before 2000, there was the existence of the: (1) Student Council; (2)

Mandated Organizations, and; (3) Accredited Organization, each of which enjoyed

administrative autonomy. There was a trust fund, called Student Miscellaneous Fund

(SMF), intended to supplement organizational revolving funds.

Student Leaders of Atty. Orlando S. Rimando National High School focused on

satisfying the needs of the students especially in programs and activities. 53 student

leaders are belong in Supreme Student Government (SSG), 37 elected officers and 16

appointed. The more officers they have the more hands to help. It enhances their skills

in leadership. But some of the officers are joining such organization like SSG just for fun

and fame.

In this premise, the researchers conduct this study in order to find out the side of

student leaders particularly in Atty. Orlando S. Rimando National High School. In

addition, it is a hope of the researchers to discover and hear the uniqueness of student
leaders’ untold feelings. The researchers wanted to unveil their stories and compare it

to our individual situation. Furthermore, the researchers wanted everyone knows that

we should respect and understand the student leader.

Purpose of the Study

This qualitative research study aims to understand the perception of student

leaders particularly in Atty. Orlando S. Rimando High School and their experiences

before and during their time sitting in their different positions. In addition, to broaden

everyone’s’ knowledge regardless to this matter most students leaders has different

skill and courage in pursuing their ambition. However, some way undergo the

judgment of others but still they focused on what they want and to achieve their real

insight in seeing opportunity in best way. This study was to identify the leadership

skills students believe they learned in co-curricular activities, to determine how those

skills are used in the classroom, and to discover whether those skills enhance the

academic experience for students. The results of this study provide information which

can aid student affairs practitioners who are seeking ways to help students make the

connection between the co-curricular and curricular leadership experiences.

Theoretical Lens

Fiedler’s contingency theory (1967) noted that the effectiveness of leaders who

were task oriented and relations-oriented coordinated with the demands of the

situation.
 The Contingency theory argues that there is no single way of leading and that

every leadership style should be based on certain situations, which signifies that there

are certain people who perform at the maximum level in certain places; but at minimal

performance when taken out of their element.

To a certain extent contingency leadership theories are an extension of the trait

theory, in the sense that human traits are related to the situation in which the leaders

exercise their leadership. It is generally accepted within the contingency theories that

leader are more likely to express their leadership when they feel that their followers will

be responsive.

Leadership researchers White and Hodgson suggest that truly effective

leadership is not just about the qualities of the leader, it is about striking the right

balance between behaviours, needs, and context. Good leaders are able to assess the

needs of their followers, take stock of the situation, and then adjust their behaviours

accordingly. Success depends on a number of variables including the leadership style,

qualities of the followers and aspects of the situation.

Great Man Theory talks about being natural leader. According to this point of

view, great leaders are simply born with the necessary internal characteristics such as

charisma, confidence, intelligence, and social skills that make them natural-born

leaders.

Great man theories assume that the capacity for leadership is inherent – that

great leaders are born, not made. These theories often portray great leaders as heroic,
mythic and destined to rise to leadership when needed. The term "Great Man" was used

because, at the time, leadership was thought of primarily as a male quality, especially in

terms of military leadership. Such theories suggest that people cannot really learn how

to become strong leaders. It's either something you are born with or born without. It is

very much a nature approach to explaining leadership (Carlyle, 1911).

McGregor (1906-1964) postulated two types of theories still prevalent in

organizations. Theory X and Theory Y attempt to describe how people relate to some

organizations today. Theory X states that people are directed and will not produce

unless coerced or made to produce in an organization. Theory Y is based on an

assumption that followers will fulfill the needs of the organization because they are

already motivated to do so.

Theory X starts from the assumption that people are naturally lazy, want to

avoid work as much as possible, do not wish to take responsibility, have no ambition

and prefer to be supervised. The authoritarian leadership style is therefore the most

appropriate leadership style in Theory X. According to this theory, pure work

motivation consists of financial incentives. People want to avoid work and they must be

continually coerced and controlled. Therefore, the system of rewards and punishments

works best for them. Furthermore, their tasks and how these should executed must be

laid down in detail. According to this theory, people definitely do not wish to bear any

responsibility for their work.

Unlike in Theory X, Douglas McGregor starts from the assumption in Theory Y

that people have different needs. Theory Y assumes that people are inherently happy to
work, they want to exert themselves and they are motivated to pursue objectives. There

is no need for the system that involves rewards and punishments. People are prepared

to take responsibility for everything they do. People want to use their creativity and

they like to take a creative problem solving approach.

During the same time, Maslow’s Theory of Eupsychian Management (1965)

made mention the importance of managers supporting their subordinates and

contributing positively to their self-esteem. This measure was important because it

“emphasized a need for self-actualization, so that everyone would have the opportunity

to become what he or she had the capacity to become.

In review of the theories of leadership, the attribution theory will be the final

theory discussed. “This theory posits that every leader and follower has his or her own

implicit theory of leadership” (Bass, 1990). In order to understand the leader, the

behavior of the leader must first be understood, along with their thought process in

regards to the situation they are experiencing at the time.

Research Question

1. What do students gain from participation in student governance?

2. What are the lived experiences of student leaders?

3. How do student leaders cope up with the problems they’ve faced?

4. What are your insights as a student leaders?

Importance of the Study

 This study highlighted the side and experiences of student leaders in Atty.

Orlando S. Rimando National High School. The result of the study will also be

beneficial to the following:

First, to the students to broaden their knowledge about the ways to support,

respect and understand the student leaders.

Also, the finding of this study will redound to the benefit of school for through

this, the school may be able to make actions by listening to the complaints and needs of

student leaders.

Furthermore, this study will benefit the government because through this the

community will also understand and cooperate with the leaders with the problem they

facing.

Importantly, this study will benefit the Student Leaders, because through this

their voices and sides not as a leader but as individual will hear. This will give them

knowledge that they can apply for their future plans of making a business and by

having a corporate philanthropy to make it successful without failing at some points.

Moreover, this study will benefit future researchers for this will serve as their

basis on making a study related to this topics and industry.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The scope of this study involved 3 student leaders of Student leaders in Atty.

Orlando S. Rimando National High School. Focus of this study is to found out what are
the experiences of those Student Leaders in the said school. The selection of the

participant are only limited since there are many student leaders in AOSRNHS.

Definition of Terms

Sacrifice over Success. The act of giving up something just to achieve goals.

Student Leaders. Any student who takes on the responsibility of spreading

knowledge through inspiration, tutoring, campaigns, etc. A student leader strives to

change the world by starting with their own community.

Untold Stories. Unrevealed attitude or activity of one person or group with

respect.

Organization of the study

In presenting the flow of the study, we organized the ideas and different

concepts accordingly. Every chapter had its corresponding views to discuss. The details

will be properly organized to achieve understanding among the readers. This study is

organized into (3) three chapters.

Chapter 1 presents the rationale where the student leaders are leading different

organizations international, national or even local. Also, research questions are

presented which will serve as a guide for the further growth of this study. Furthermore,

the purpose and significance of the study is also communicated in this chapter.

Additionally, definition of terms were presented to give clarification to other few words
to have a better understanding of the study. Scope and limitations were presented along

with the theories that will strengthen the study.

Chapter 2 discusses various related studies, facts and information about student

leaders and its difficulty and its underlying effects to the people who shares the same

dilemma. It includes articles and cases of those people who experienced those

difficulties and successfully overcame those problems. The chapter also discusses the

studies conducted by previous researchers with the same scope and features of this

study.

Chapter 3 outlines the methodology used in conducting the study. This includes

the research design used, the role of researchers and the participants involved. The

chapter also describes how the data will be collected and analysed. Furthermore, it is

here where the trustworthiness, credibility of the study is explained. Lastly, the chapter

also includes the ethical consideration to secure the protection of the participants

involved in conducting the study.