Rationalism and Empiricism

Rationalism and Empiricism, two perceptions or ideas of man when it comes into their lives. I, myself have this in mind whether to be a rational or empiricist, this two ideas where still contradicting in my mind. Sometimes I do think to have them both or balance the two, but one thing I realized that I cannot balance everything, for me balance is not the right term, rather it is to manage. 

My personal experience about this two ideas goes like this. When I was in grade school I attended many leadership forum or seminars, even though I was not a leader at that time, with that many concepts about leadership was introduced to me. When I was in high school I became a student leader, in my last year of being student leader, I became the Student Council President, then one it suddenly flashed back to my mind what I learned from the forums and seminars years ago, then I realized , not all the concept that was introduced to me was applicable at all time. There are concepts that used to be perfect but actually when it comes into application it is quite different. In generalization, not all ideas are the same when it was applied.