Campus politics matter more than we think

 Every year, we gather in the auditorium for the Miting de Avance. But ask the average student about what they remember, and you may not hear anything about platforms or plans—you’ll hear about early dismissal, maybe the dance number, and the day’s gossip.

This year’s Student Council (SC) elections have already come to a close, and as always, one party—the only party—won. Sure, there may be independent candidates, but most students might not pay much attention to their platforms. In some cases, they may have voted based on personal preference or peer influence rather than the candidates’ proposals. 

A friend of mine, a former SC officer, planned on running again this year. However, he felt that despite being known in the student body, he would lose simply because he didn't have the support of a party containing long-established SC members. It begs the question, how many students want to make a change but are afraid that they are not capable or popular enough to be elected?

The declining interest in SC elections in DCHS may be attributed to the fact that, over recent years, there has been only one party, and with just one, the rest would have to run as independent candidates. There may just be a growing negative stigma against leadership that makes it appear more intimidating than a perpetual avenue and opportunity for change and growth. 

I remember my Grade 10 Social Studies teacher and overseer of the 2024 SC election urging us students to run to give the SC a challenge. I thought at the time that it was to give them a scare and shake things up. But now I know. It was to push more student leaders to put their ideas and effort into platforms and not expect an automatic win because they don't know if someone's better. That is why we need competition in our SC elections—to remind student leaders that they are the ones who serve the students and empower students to have a say in who leads us. Ultimately, the loss among the students’ eagerness to participate, whether in leadership positions or as a voter, reveals an even bigger conflict among the youth.

With the midterm national elections that just ended, we look forward to the next presidential elections in 2028. And most Grade 10-12 students now might have been registered to vote by then. But we must ask ourselves, “Are we ready to vote?”

Our mindset in electing SC officers mirrors the political culture in the Philippines to the point that we would not be able to make a change with our votes. The lack of interest in the platforms of future student leaders reflects the inadequate preparation we have to be thoughtful and responsible voters in the world outside our academic institution. Just like how a lot of voters choose candidates based on celebrity status, catchy jingles, or even just appearances, many students tend to vote based on popularity, not plans. 

Soon, we'll be the ones treating debates not as an opportunity to learn about future governance but as our entertainment and gossip for the week. We’d continue treating politics like a popularity contest and not as the life-altering enigma that it is. We’re mimicking the same patterns that lead to unqualified leaders taking office. That may not be so bad in DCHS where candidates tend to be competent, but it can be harmful on a local or even a national level. 

It is said that the youth is the hope of the future. But how can that be when students act like those in the present? Thus, I leave you with this: If we want the youth to make real change in the nation, we must prepare students to engage in political discourses and become responsible leaders and voters here in school before they step into the “real world.”