Lived Experiences of Student

Organization Officerss

Abiera, Vince Levi B.

Lapingcao, Francis Marie E.

Miano, Nela Mae B.

Pantilag, KC Marie

Quiador, Clarissa Beatrix

Rondero, Gheek Ralph M.

Sabellano, Laila Marie

Sesante, Danica

Teves, Sharade B.
 Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Rationale

Student organization is a social institution inside the academe that has a

shared interest within the social group. The student organizations create

opportunities for social networks, developing leadership skills, as well as a

medium to exercise their field of interest. Student officers in an organization play

a crucial role in fulfilling the objectives of the organization. More to this, they also

encountered several setbacks along the way upon fulfilling their responsibilities.

There are advantages and disadvantages for students who engage

themselves in student organizations. Investigation shows that students who

exercised their leadership skills during high school are more likely to be paid up

to 33% higher than those without it (Cooper et al., 1994). U.S Census Bureau

shows that 57 % of students range from 6-17 years old participate in at least one

school organization. Research also shows students who are involved in an

organization are much likely to have stress; 62 % on stress and 75% on burnout.

According to Human Resources Professionals Association, 63 % of the millennial

of today feel they have a lack of leadership development. Based on the new

nationwide survey commissioned by FileMaker, Inc. college students are having

problems with workload and organizational skills affecting their grades. The

survey, conducted by Greenfield Online, found that nearly half of college

students (47 percent) feel their high school did not prepare them with the
organizational skills required to do well in college and 54 percent felt they would

get better grades if they get organized and stay organized.

Based on the statistical research stated above, there are more than half of

the students’ population who aren’t involved in clubs and organizations that are

struggling in leading and managing their time. As for students who actively

participated in at least one or more organizations gain a lot from their collegiate

experience; which impacts how they thrive in college, and most probably in their

future careers. As students invest time and energy in participating in curricular

activities, they can gain a variety of positive benefits that would correlate to their

performance in their workplace.

This school year 2019, the University of Cebu-Main Campus Senior High

School Department holds its first establishment of school organizations in their

third year of administering senior high school department. Organizations were

created like Synapse, KaSapFi, and Campus Integrity Crusaders among others.

All of the newly elected officers were the pioneering student officers and by this,

several ups and downs eventuate within the organization. Other clubs may have

been successful in the activeness of their organization, but some have failed to

do so.

Students who engage in school organizations undergo various

achievements and mishaps but on the other hand, one can surmount valuable

attitudes they could use on their daily living and future career endeavors. Michael

Anderson and Fangwen Lu (2017) researched about the students who are

serving in the academe; it was stated that they may have a higher increase of
performance in the classroom; Rosenthal Effect is presented where, in this case,

it states that leaders feared of being replaced if they underperform, making them

to exert more effort in excelling (2014). Severino Alviente (2018) also reported

that student officers need to have regular leadership training in order to be more

effective and mature leaders. However, the studies stated above did not mention

about the struggles encountered by the students upon involving themselves in

leading and managing their subordinates within their club/organization. They did

not show the possible challenges the students encountered and how they can

cope up regarding this issue.

The purpose of this study focuses mainly on managing approaches,

challenges and coping strategies of student organization officers particularly in

senior high school at the University of Cebu - Private Campus. The researchers

would like to regulate this study in order to help other student organization

officers in the means of managing their responsibilities and provide penetrations

for the progress of their organizations. This study betters the student officers as it

can provide massive insights for them to be efficient leaders; hereby

acknowledging undiscovered skills in order to achieve a balance extracurricular

and academic life.

Theoretical Background

In this chapter, the researchers reviewed some existing theories which

can support on interpreting this study. The theories given will be about

management, leadership, and self-development.

 Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation. The Goal Setting Theory was

proposed by an American psychologist, Edwin Locke (1940). This theory states

that goal settings can contribute to the effectiveness of performing organizational

tasks. This asserts that a clear dissemination of goals and a proper delegation of

tasks would give direction to its subordinates for a more effective performing

environment—knowing clearly on what should be done especially on the efforts

that should be exerted to. Alongside with this, is the feedback the leaders would

give with towards the result of the execution of the task done by its subordinates.

Feedback is a tool to motivate the members on sustaining and improving their

performance to the task given.

In this study, the experiences of student officers in an organization operate

as a catalyst in order to sustain the productivity within the organization. This

theory provides a vital role in the study as it gives a basis on how effective the

student officers are in terms of managing their members. Here, the Goal Settings

Theory of motivation highlights the self-efficiency and goal commitment among

the people in an organization.

Situational Theory of Leadership. Situational Theory of Leadership was

proposed by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanshard (1970). This theory states that the

process of leading a group cannot only limit with one style, rather with various

styles depending on the performance tasks given. This theory asserts that the

carried out leadership and strategy techniques would depend on a particular

situation. Corresponding to the theory, the most effective leaders are those who

can speculate strategies that would best suit the task and the people with whom
they are working. It is when they can adapt styles that would lead to efficient

progress in their organization.

This research is anchored on this theory such that establishing activities in

an organization involves different kinds of leadership approaches. There are

various occasions the student officers can coordinate and with this, different

kinds of leadership strategies play a vital role in order to make an activity

successful. This theory able the leaders to assess themselves on what strategies

to execute in order to achieve their goals. For this, the leaders must know the

relationship between them and the members. They must know how willing and

informed their members are. Hersey-Blanchard (1970), provides a model that

provides different levels of thinking and motivation that shows the nature of the

members. These shows solutions on how to deal with it. In a nutshell, the

Hersey-Blanchard model suggests that their level of maturity is a guide for the

leaders on which is the best strategy to undertake to help the organization

achieve its goals.

Self-determination Theory. Self-determination Theory was proposed by

Edward Deci and Richard Ryan (1985). Self-determination theory states what

motivates people to do a certain activity. It is a psychological engagement

associated with consequential actions and positive feelings. According to SDT,

psychological engagement varies as a function of how much a person has

internalized the goal of the activity (1985). The motivation and engagement will

pave the way when finally the person can identify, internalize, and integrate it into
their self-esteem. This theory asserts that once the person knows how purposeful

their work of activity is, the engagement will be continuum.

This theory is anchored with our research as it explains the motivations of

the student officers upon doing such voluntary work. Adding the fact that there

are no extra points in the grades with regards to servicing in the academe,

leadership service can benefit the psychological cognition amongst the members

and officers. The theory plays a vital role in addressing how important and

purposeful servicing can be as it can give impact to the people around the

student officers and the student officers themselves. Consequently, these

theories thoroughly elaborated the facet on the involvement of student officers in

an organization in the academe.

These theories are vital for the foundation of this research to be able to

conduct this study effectively as this would significantly provide a critical basis

upon studying the lived experiences of the student officers in an organization with

regards to its motivations, management, and coping strategies.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to explore the participation experiences of the student

officers in school organizations in UC- Pri during the school year 2019-2020.

Specifically, this seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What drives the respondents to join such an organization/s?

 2. How do the respondents manage their organization/s effectively?

3. What are the challenging parts encountered by the respondents?

4. What are the coping strategies of the respondents?

Significance of the Study

Student officers. The existence of this study would be a great

contribution to the vast knowledge in relation to the experiences of student

organizations' officers. This will help them gain massive insights that they can

use upon proposing activities in such organizations. The results will provide them

coping strategies that can help them to overcome possible challenges that they

can encounter.

Members of the club/organizations. Upon knowing this study, the

members will be able to see the efforts of student officers upon conducting

projects and activities. And by this, they would have empathy making them be

more participative in the organizations they are joining. They would also know the

advantages of joining organizations inspiring them to connect with organizations.

Advisers. They shall be illuminated to the real scenarios of student

officers who are making efforts to the welfare of the constituents; hereby helping

the student officers achieving the objectives of the organizations, as well as

guiding them on how to be a more productive citizen of the society.

 Future Researchers. This study can serve as a guide for them as they

will be getting additional sense that can strengthen and broaden their knowledge.

Upon reading the overall paper, future researchers can gather data and

information that can support and lead them to have effective research later on.

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the participation experiences of the student officers

in a school organization in UC Pri for the school year 2019-2020. The

researchers will uncover the benefits, challenges, and coping strategies of the

student officers upon joining the school organization. The school officers who are

included in the study are 10 selected officers both from Grade 11 and 12; from

any strand who are part of the different organizations in UC Pri who are active in

conducting activities. The questionnaire is the main instrument of the study.

Through this, the researchers will analyze, assess and interpret the answers of

the respondents which will be copied in verbatim.

Definition of Terms

The terms are operationally defined based on how they are used in the

study:
 Experience - refers to the happenings underwent that can

contribute to the skill and knowledge of a person. This is also in

correspondence to the feeling obtained from doing something that has an

effect on the person.

School - is an organization/institution responsible for teaching,

educating and dispersing knowledge to students in the community.

School organization - is a group of students in academe that

share a common interest and goal that would help benefit its members or

the student buddy.

Student officers - refers to a group of students in an organization

who are appointed to lead and manage the future activities in an

organization.
 Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Every research roots from its foundation which consists of reliable and

credible literary works that provide the researchers and the study itself with

important information to complete the study with accurate and precise results.

These sources are critically analyzed and evaluated to maximize its contents for

a well-supported study. The study is mostly based on literature and studies

whose theme centers on the experiences of student organization officers.

Related Literature

The literature to be reviewed is vital in developing the study and broaden

the concepts and ideas as the study progresses. In hither, the themes of the

research will be discussed in its corresponding literature.

Purpose in Participating Student Organizations. Harvard Assessment

Project recognized that building connections between school and community life

are among the factors why students join organizations; this engagement

contributes to a more fulfilled college graduates (Light, 2001). More satisfaction

and a sense of fulfillment are observed when a student involves more in

extracurricular activities. They do not settle on exercising their skills in the

classrooms, rather exercising more in a collaborative effort to various community

services. A more comprehensive description can be found in an article that

statedpeople join organizations for networking with the field they are interested in

and for valuable experience they can learn outside the classrooms (Skogerboe,

2019). Students, hither, could also improve their time management; No matter

how busy they are, they will know how to prioritize the task according to its

importance. Adding the fact that this won’t just stop in graduation day, but also

the student’s resume (Colbert, 2016). All these will pay off in the long run. These

studies are relevant to our research as this reason out the purpose of

establishing organizations. Hence, seeing the factors in depths will pave way for

students on their motivation upon joining such social groups.

Similar to the researcher’s study, this article discusses topics that are

connected to engaging in student organizations and their corresponding benefits

on the participants’ behalf. This article aids in understanding more about the

topic regarding why these students engage in such organizations. Although

results appear consistent with prior research, they appear inconsistent that it

doesn’t give specific details on the skills they can accumulate through joining.

The strong point with the related studies given is the motivation for why

students should join an organization. This encourages students to engage

themselves in it for the possible benefits they can gain. On the other hand, weak

points were shown as they did not assert the possible struggles the students can

experience along the way upon achieving those benefits.

Managing Student Organizations. Successful organization comes with a

good leader. And being a good leader is equated to being a good manager.
According to Haines (2019), student organization helps student officer foster their

soft skills specifically on time management, problem-solving, and communication.

Digging more on this theme, retention of a student organization is a challenge for

student officers; welcoming environment, utilizing small groups, constant follow

up, and the members’ knowledge to its mission and vision must be practiced well

(Mercado, 2018). An article published by Fitch (2019) from the University of

Texas at Dallas on its Student Organization manual states that knowledge,

guidance, and leadership that comes from the adviser is also crucial to produce a

strong foundation in managing an organization. This is vital to our study as this

gives an insight into what should be like about having effective management in

an organization.

The articles shown above are similar to our study concerning the

managing procedures in an organization. They have given important factors in

pursuit of its effectiveness. However, it differs in the sense that it lacks content

based on how to propose activities and the execution part of it. The related

literature only showed the pre-planning in managing an organization and did not

include the depths upon executing such plans.

They have stated strong points by giving important attributes with regard

to a successful organization. This includes the value that both student officers

and club advisers must have in order to have a successful organization. On the

other hand, it did not provide a more concrete solution to actualize those factors

given. Whatever the case, the data given could help the researchers on their

pursuits on continuing this research.

 Challenges of Being a Student Organization Officer. With the exerted

amount of effort given upon engaging in student organizations, one can be very

fragile along the way. Student officers faced a lot of hardships heading towards

them more precisely on financial constraints, leadership issues, and a need in

continuing to attract members (Levitt and March, 1988). They face disputes in

times of acquiring resources; without it, they cannot survive in terms of fulfilling

the objectives of their organization (Bielefeld,1993). It was also reported in the

literature that appointed leaders change frequently, by this, being able to stabilize

and sustain the organization is a challenge for student officers (Friedman, 1984).

The articles discuss the possible factors of challenges student officers

might encounter. The strengths of the literature lies when they’ve given a precise

explanation regarding the issues. However, they have not been able to indicate

the values and attitudes of student officers and organization advisers upon

experiencing the said challenges.

In the context of UC-Pri, this study relates to the research as its

department can hold students only up to two years. Subsequently, getting funds,

encouraging the freshmen and sophomores to be knowledgeable and

participative, and sustaining the organization is a challenge. With this, the studies

are vital for this research for it opened up possible problems that give the

researchers a chance to create ways of solving these issues upon digging more

into this research.

 Coping Strategies of Being a Student Organization Officer. With a

clear understanding of the problems, one can create strategies that can help to

be able to cope up with the issues. Seminal contributions have been made by

Levitt and March (1988), stating that the social group must know and apply from

their past mistakes, other organizations’ experiences, and develop frameworks

upon interpreting other’s experiences. According to McCarthy and Walker (1988),

issues with regards to the acquisition of resources can be solved by creating

tactics in order to gain funds. For student officers to gather their resources, they

need to answer these four questions as their guide: what do we need, who will

get it, how will we get it, and how do we keep it?

This study is similar to the research because the given data is correlated

with the coping strategies of handling school organizations. They have shown

effective strategies among school organizations. It is different nevertheless, in

the sense that it lacks particular solutions with regards to the problem given.

The strong point was shown in a way that the sources were figured out on

where we can approach upon solving the issues. For this, student officers will

know where to and how to approach when facing upcoming challenges.

However, weak points have been evident when the strategies provided are not

guaranteed to be solidly effective and no attitudes stated upon solving those

issues; which is very crucial in executing those strategies. In either way, these

findings are important for the researchers as this will serve as their basis for their

pursuit of the research.

Related Studies

The Lived experiences of Student organization officers are made up of

different positive and negative experiences. These experiences shall not be

regarded as it affects the present and future conditions of the officers. There are

various studies created and carried out in pursuit of investigating the involvement

of student officers in an organization with the scope of finding out its perceived

effects. Here, the researchers gathered different significant sources that can

support the analysis and interpretation of the study as it progresses.

Smith and Chenoweth (2015) conducted a study to examine the

contribution of school organization to the students’ self-assessment of their

leadership traits and relational behaviors. The study revealed that students who

participated in co-curricular campus organizations were rated higher on a number

of related leadership traits including trust, honesty, optimism, persistence, and

accountability. Students who engaged themselves in more than one organization

rated their overall characteristics and behave more positively. Although, the

number of organizations attended doesn’t signify the level of satisfaction among

officers; this indicates that one successful and sustained experience is as

beneficial as serial or multiple concurrent experiences.

Extensive research leads to the conclusion that participation in student

organizations has a strong correlation with psychosocial development, and

increased performance towards involvement in education. It was clearly evident

that students who take part in clubs and organizations during their college

experience are also those with higher levels of development in many other fields

(Foubert & Grainger, 2006). Other benefits of the student organization are

mentioned by Baughman and Bruce (2011): It allows students to be satisfied with

the university, develop a relationship with other students, and fosters a frequent

contact with peers.

On a wider view of involvement in organization research, Reeves (2008)

determined that parents and teachers are worried that when students become

too involved with in-school involvement activities including clubs, they may lose

their concentration on academics. Wilson (2009) stated that when students get

overscheduled may result in pushing themselves too far with the potential of

having a serious repercussion. In that critical age of physical development,

students need time for relaxation to refresh their minds from all the works.

The study is similar to this research as it explores the experiences of

students’ involvement in school organizations, the positive and negative effects

they could get. This has been discussed thoroughly throughout the entire study

and the following studies clearly stated the impacts of participating in school

organizations. The review provided the researchers some knowledge on how

school organizations can affect the students’ personal, social and academic

development in different aspects.

The study is not totally different from the researchers' except for the fact

that it focuses more on the wider scope of the academe— which involves the

students rather focusing only on the student officers. The research clearly points
out the challenges a student may have encountered in participating in an

organization, however, it failed to provide some strategies on how do students

cope with it. Hence, the researchers will provide a wider scope of study that will

help other student organization officers in managing their organizations

effectively and provide coping strategies for the progress of such organizations.

In a nutshell, these studies provide the researchers with a concrete

foundation that is fundamental to the research. Through a critical review of these

findings, the researchers will be able to use them and develop it further so that it

can be applied to their study and arrive at a better conclusion.

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