No longer an exec....
I know I already wrote a post today, but this is an entirely different topic...
Today was my last day as an exec for AIESEC Victoria....
Well it doesn't feel like it yet, but my term has come to an end. As of tomorrow, I will no longer be the Vice President of Member Development for AIESEC Victoria. It went by so fast, it really did. But I think I learned a lot. I probably learned a lot that I don't even realize I learned. Sometimes, I use skills I gained in AIESEC in other areas and then I realize 'wow, I didn't used to be able to do that'.
One of the most important things I learned is that you can't do everything. There were a lot of things I wanted to do during my term that didn't get done, but honestly I just couldn't do it. You can only do so much, but what you choose, do it well. I had a lot of failures... things that didn't work, ideas that never became action, goals that weren't met. When I first started to realize this in the fall, I was very upset. I felt that I had wasted my term and hadn't gotten as much out of it as I should have. This may be true to some extent, I could have done more, but I think even my failures have taught me a lot. I'm realize more and more that it's not so much successes but experiences that are important, good or bad (though preferably good). As much as I wish all my plans had worked out, I kind of realize they couldn't possibly have, and that I still gained a lot from trying.
Another thing I have learned is the value of teamwork. As a member of the EB, I loved to listen to what the other execs were doing and offer advice and support. However, when it came to my portfolio, I tried to do it all myself. I said I wanted a team, but deep down I really wanted the portflio to be mine. This was a mistake. Not only did this limit my capacity, it also denied me the experience of directing and supporting others. I thought I could do it all myself, but having a team is really a blessing. I was wrong this time, but next time, I will do it better.
I have also made some really good friends both on my exec team and on the incoming exec team. I'm very slow to get to know new people. In fact, I rather dislike meeting new people. Being on the exec forced me to open up to my fellow execs, share ideas, laugh and smile. I think this helped me a lot to learn about myself. And my fellow execs will hold a special place in my heart forever. They helped me grow.
I tend to be a person who regrets. I dwell on my mistakes far too long and worry about what I should have done differently. While I won't claim that my term was perfect, I want to leave my position feeling that I did, in fact, contribute a lot and make an impact. I organized and ran 3 succesful recruitments. Many of the memebrs I recruited are now very active, several are on the new exec. Severel members I recruited have gone on exchanges, an life changing experinece for them, and I was part of it. I contacted people, attended all my meetings, organized events and GAs. No, it wasn't perfect, but I continually improved (I hope) and I worked hard. And another thing I realized... the little things add up.
I've had my ups and downs with AIESEC. Sometimes I'm so pumped, I just want to jump up and don and scream how much I love this organization. Somnetimes, I get so sick of it and just want to ignore it for a while. I think even these cycles have taught me a lot. It's so important to stay balanced, be involved but don't burn out. But of course that's eaier said than done.
Even though I'm no longer an exec, my AIESEC career is not over. Hopefully I will be travelling this summer. Then in the fall I will take up my position as VP logistics for Global Village. I will also be the Development Internship Director. So it will be a time of new experinces and continued learning. I still have a lot to learn, I know, and they they can't get rid of me so easily ^_^.
Today was my last day as an exec for AIESEC Victoria....
Well it doesn't feel like it yet, but my term has come to an end. As of tomorrow, I will no longer be the Vice President of Member Development for AIESEC Victoria. It went by so fast, it really did. But I think I learned a lot. I probably learned a lot that I don't even realize I learned. Sometimes, I use skills I gained in AIESEC in other areas and then I realize 'wow, I didn't used to be able to do that'.
One of the most important things I learned is that you can't do everything. There were a lot of things I wanted to do during my term that didn't get done, but honestly I just couldn't do it. You can only do so much, but what you choose, do it well. I had a lot of failures... things that didn't work, ideas that never became action, goals that weren't met. When I first started to realize this in the fall, I was very upset. I felt that I had wasted my term and hadn't gotten as much out of it as I should have. This may be true to some extent, I could have done more, but I think even my failures have taught me a lot. I'm realize more and more that it's not so much successes but experiences that are important, good or bad (though preferably good). As much as I wish all my plans had worked out, I kind of realize they couldn't possibly have, and that I still gained a lot from trying.
Another thing I have learned is the value of teamwork. As a member of the EB, I loved to listen to what the other execs were doing and offer advice and support. However, when it came to my portfolio, I tried to do it all myself. I said I wanted a team, but deep down I really wanted the portflio to be mine. This was a mistake. Not only did this limit my capacity, it also denied me the experience of directing and supporting others. I thought I could do it all myself, but having a team is really a blessing. I was wrong this time, but next time, I will do it better.
I have also made some really good friends both on my exec team and on the incoming exec team. I'm very slow to get to know new people. In fact, I rather dislike meeting new people. Being on the exec forced me to open up to my fellow execs, share ideas, laugh and smile. I think this helped me a lot to learn about myself. And my fellow execs will hold a special place in my heart forever. They helped me grow.
I tend to be a person who regrets. I dwell on my mistakes far too long and worry about what I should have done differently. While I won't claim that my term was perfect, I want to leave my position feeling that I did, in fact, contribute a lot and make an impact. I organized and ran 3 succesful recruitments. Many of the memebrs I recruited are now very active, several are on the new exec. Severel members I recruited have gone on exchanges, an life changing experinece for them, and I was part of it. I contacted people, attended all my meetings, organized events and GAs. No, it wasn't perfect, but I continually improved (I hope) and I worked hard. And another thing I realized... the little things add up.
I've had my ups and downs with AIESEC. Sometimes I'm so pumped, I just want to jump up and don and scream how much I love this organization. Somnetimes, I get so sick of it and just want to ignore it for a while. I think even these cycles have taught me a lot. It's so important to stay balanced, be involved but don't burn out. But of course that's eaier said than done.
Even though I'm no longer an exec, my AIESEC career is not over. Hopefully I will be travelling this summer. Then in the fall I will take up my position as VP logistics for Global Village. I will also be the Development Internship Director. So it will be a time of new experinces and continued learning. I still have a lot to learn, I know, and they they can't get rid of me so easily ^_^.