Being regional director for a day: At 15, iSagada scout discovers the real weight of leadership

FEATURE

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — She arrived at the Department of Education–Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) with questions in her mind and a quiet fear of not knowing what to do. By the end of the day, 15-year-old Ameerah B. Nidoy had learned a lesson no title could fully teach her: being a leader means carrying the responsibility of serving others.

For a day on October 12, the Grade 10 student of La Trinidad National High School and proud iSagada stepped into the shoes of the DepEd-CAR regional director through the annual Scout Officials-for-a-Day (SOFAD) program.

It was an opportunity many young people could only imagine—entering the offices where decisions affecting schools, teachers, and learners are made.

But for Nidoy, the experience was not about sitting in a powerful chair or enjoying the prestige of a government position. It was about discovering the people, processes, and responsibilities behind the education system.

And she quickly realized that leadership was not as easy as it might appear.

A title, a challenge, and a little uncertainty

Nidoy did not initially expect to find herself at the helm of the regional education office.

She recalled thinking that she would be assigned to the Police Regional Office–Cordillera Administrative Region. It was only through their group chat that she learned she would instead serve as DepEd-CAR regional director for a day.

With the activity approaching, surprise gave way to apprehension.

She knew she could not simply walk into the office and pretend to understand how everything worked. She needed to prepare, learn about the agency, and find out how she could make the most of the opportunity.

“I had to research again on what to do inside the DepEd office and how to help so I would not just stand there and act clueless when it is time to sit as Regional Director,” she recalled.

It was a telling glimpse of the young scout's determination. Although she was given a prestigious designation, she understood that the opportunity also required preparation.

When she arrived, however, the accommodating DepEd-CAR personnel helped ease her nervousness. Regional Director Nicolas Capulong immediately interviewed her, giving her a closer introduction to the office she would be observing for the day.

Her role came with limitations. She was not authorized to sign official documents or exercise the full powers of the regional director. Instead, she visited different offices, observed personnel at work, interacted with employees, and asked questions about their responsibilities.

“To be completely transparent, I haven't really done much,” she admitted.

Yet what Nidoy considered a modest experience would leave her with a lesson far greater than the tasks she was able to perform.

Seeing the people behind every lesson

For many students, a lesson begins when a teacher opens a book, writes on the board, or explains a topic in class.

For Nidoy, SOFAD offered a glimpse of what happens before those lessons reach the classroom.

As she moved around the regional office, she saw personnel working on the development of curricula, lessons, and educational programs. Their dedication helped her understand that education is sustained not only by the teachers standing in front of their classes, but also by people working behind the scenes to support learning.

Among the most memorable parts of her experience was learning how school activities and classroom lessons are developed.

The discovery gave her a new appreciation of the work that goes into the education she and her fellow students receive.

It also inspired her to work harder as a learner.

Still, the day was not without its difficulties.

Nidoy wanted to ask as many questions as possible, but finding the words to express her thoughts proved challenging.

“The most challenging parts of my experience as Regional Director was actually communication. Even though I want to ask as many questions as possible to make use of my time there, I cannot seem to say what I want to say,” she said.

Her struggle was a reminder that leadership does not automatically come with confidence. Sometimes, it begins with the willingness to speak despite uncertainty, listen when others have more experience, and learn from situations that push a person beyond familiar ground.

Beyond the title

Before SOFAD, Nidoy admitted that she tended to see government positions mainly as titles and symbols of authority.

Her time at DepEd-CAR changed that perspective.

She came to understand that behind every designation are duties, decisions, and responsibilities that can affect other people. Leadership, she learned, is not simply about being intelligent, charismatic, or capable of standing before an audience.

It also demands compassion, mindfulness, and the ability to manage competing responsibilities.

“This experience taught me how being a leader and being a public servant is not all that easy,” Nidoy said.

“Because I learned that being a leader is not just about being smart or being charismatic — although those are some of the important parts — leading is also about being compassionate, being mindful, and knowing how to multitask.”

Her realization captures the essence of her experience: the higher the position, the greater the responsibility to understand and serve the people affected by one's decisions.

For a 15-year-old student, it was a lesson in leadership grounded not in authority but in observation, humility, and a growing awareness of the needs of others.

Young enough to learn, old enough to lead

As a proud half-Igorot and half-Ilocano, Nidoy joined the program upon the recommendation of her troop leader and the encouragement of fellow scouts.

Through SOFAD, an annual initiative held during National Scouting Month, qualified Boy and Girl Scouts are given opportunities to experience the work of government officials and agency heads. The program seeks to nurture civic awareness and develop young people's leadership potential.

For Nidoy, its value extended beyond the day she spent inside a regional government office.

As a student, she gained a deeper appreciation of the people working to improve education. As a scout, she acquired lessons about leadership that she hopes to share with other young people. She wants them to understand that they do not need to wait until they are older to contribute to their communities.

“To my fellow Girl Scouts and other young people who aspire to become leaders, I want you to remember that you do not have to wait until you are older to make a difference,” she said.

She reminded them that leadership is not measured by the position a person occupies, but by the positive impact that person leaves on others.

She also urged young people not to be afraid of making mistakes, emphasizing that challenges can become opportunities for learning and growth.

For Nidoy, the day did not make her an experienced government official overnight. Nor did it give her the authority to make decisions for an entire region.

What it gave her was something more lasting: a clearer understanding of what public service asks of those who accept its responsibilities.

At 15, she had only begun to discover what leadership means. But she had already learned that it takes more than a title to become a leader.

Sometimes, it begins with admitting that you do not know everything, having the courage to ask questions, and recognizing the hard work of people whose contributions may never be seen by those they serve.

And sometimes, the most important lesson from occupying a leader's seat is realizing that leadership was never really about the seat at all.