Yes or no, only two possible answers for the question on my mobile’s screen. It is funny how the difference between 2 and 3 letters may completely change the direction of our life.
“Would you like to continue with AIESEC in Kandy for summer term 23.24?”, this was the question.
Having been an AIESECer for a year I knew with no ambiguity that AIESEC is work. With a potentially tight academic year ahead of me I simply was not sure whether it is worth it, whether AIESEC has truly delivered on the personality transformation it promises. Yes or no?
“Surviving is much about solving real life problems”
– Farweez Immamudeen, Director of Speak Learning Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
One fine morning we woke up to find out that the Municipal had arbitrarily decided to cut water supply to our home. I had an important lecture to run to and I also had to make sure that my mother had the water she needed to run that day. The first solution that occurred to me was to buy a few gallons of drinking water and have it sent home. Then! I could hear the voice of our logistics VP of the Organizing committee in my head “ayyyoooo don’t spend money on that”. I listened to the voice and reconsidered my solution. It didn’t take long for me to figure out an inexpensive way out of the problem.
You are probably wondering why this simple matter is worth mentioning. I had the same question when my Local Committee President got worked up over a rather silly method I employed to cool my cup of tea in the conference room, “You are solution oriented, I really appreciate that”. Bro, I just wanted tea! No big deal. However, now I realize the point he was making. It is not the act itself that is significant but the attitude behind it.
The change in my perception is omnipresent. Where I used to ask “Is this doable?”, I now ask “How can I do this?”. Where I used to ask “We’ll do this”, I now say “We’ll do this properly”. Where I used to say “This is it! I am done”, I now say “Imma try a different way now”. In the way I deal with my everyday problems, plan my next year, write my assignments and conduct myself in meetings this change in attitude is apparent. That is likely the most valuable thing AIESEC has given me.
That is, second to the family of AIESECers, of course.
“Yes” I selected on my screen. AIESEC for another six months, at least.
Ammar Faleel
AIESEC in University of Peradeniya
A like-minded organization in creating value driven leaders
Tags: #PersonalityTransformation, #ValueDriven, AIESEC, AIESECinUOP, AIESEClk, Leadership Last modified:
