It's really pleasant to see the new LCEB in TBS taking shape. Although being quite tied up to work currently. I've tried not to miss any chance of LC activities running recently. As a mean of sharing with all members of AIESEC in Taylor's Business School and to empower them, I've written an e-mail to the LC Yahoo!Group as below:
"Greetings to all,
I'm really happy and delighted to see many new faces and a high spirited LCEB team willing to drive the LC further. For those who have no idea of who I am, my name is Melvin and I've been in AIESEC for 3 years and counting. Allow me to share with you of a story which has never been told before, story of how AIESEC in TBS started young and how it's grown so much to what we have today.
What prompted me to join this organisation was the
INTERNATIONAL involvement among members and in my mind, I was thinking, "Will I be forced to go around the world where I don't even have enough money to go even to Singapore?!" But in my mind, I was thinking, why don't I give a try to see how far would this organisation bring me? Deep down, I wished TBS could sponsor me to go abroad if necessary... =P Back then was not as fortunate as now. I can still remember the condition of the LC when I first step into my first LC meeting. It was in a class in 4th floor where our meeting was spearheaded by a few members from the Members Committee back then in 2004. They're busy talking about the coming national conference back in June 2004 then. Honestly i was so left out as all I could see was adult looking members talking in alien languages.
I admit that I was
quite left out back then as I didn't see the relevance of what AIESEC brings to the society and most importantly, to me. I didn't get much news from AIESEC in TBS either. I was left like that until I was involved in career fair back in the same year. It was nice to see AIESEC TBS members around which was about 10 people back then. In that year too, it's where we had our 1st AIESEC event which was the HIV/AIDS day then. Nice year indeed in AIESEC but I'm not shy to admit that I still hadn't found much of what AIESEC meant to me. However, there's something about this organisation that i wanted to explore about. For me, I guessed that there would be more than just gathering of members who act adults, career fairs and HIV/AIDS initiatives.
2005 - was where
changes took place. The team back then was experiencing much pressure from the TBS management and the Members Committee. I was made the Vice President of Information Systems and of course, I was quite doubtful of my capabilities but I decided that it's time for me to grow up and to see how far I can achieve. Honestly, the LCEB back then was quite volatile and vulnerable. We don't see a concrete foundation for the LC to stand on as we did not see any support given by the mentor LC, UKM or the MC then. It was when the team almost gave up hope on the sustainability of the LC. Problems after problems were giving much burden to the members and especially the LCEBs. It was when I've decided that I've to do something to help the LC
before everyone really gives up hope on it. Towards the end of the term, I've made myself prepared of the challenges ahead when I've bothered quite a lot of AIESEC members around the country to assist me in my journey to find the real relevance of AIESEC to me and to give me a real picture of what AIESEC means to the society and myself. After then, there was no turning back... I gave most people in AIESEC tough time to obtain things that I want to have. Believe it or not, what feared most towards the end, was none other than building up an LC from people who've almost no knowledge of what AIESEC is all about and the relevance of its existence in our local chapter. Approaching the end of 2005, I was made Local Committee President of a "near hopeless" Local Commitee. I was told to build the LC from scratch after most "experienced" members left for
Australia to complete their studies. I had a great time with the predecessors as they made me realised that problems are real problems when you keep emphasising on them and how they gave you tough times, but they would be real positive challenges when you seek into the root of the problems and find solutions in them.
2006 - A year of many "first"s to me in AIESEC. First LCPM, first LLDS, first Xchange realisation, first EGM, first AGM, first SN recruitment campaign and of course, my first taste of leadership in an organisation besides my first road to facilitating conferences. For me, it's a great year where I've attended several international conferences, especially to the
Philippines for the APXLDS (Asia Pacific X Leadership Development Seminar) - my first taste of
real international conference. I realised that AIESEC was where the impossible happens. I would never think of myself knowing friends from around the world and being close to them. Frankly speaking, I've friends from over 30 different countries with different nationalities and culture and we're still keeping in touch. The LC was at its turning point when a few members came into the family towards the end of April, not long after our 1st LLDS. Somehow I knew then that these group of young and talented members would be the pioneers of the LC who'll spearhead the LC to a stronger and capable LC which will be able to produce young graduates with leadership skills and high competency. Anyway, this is what AIESEC about. Making an impact along the journey of learning, not to oneself but to people around.
These are the gems which I've collected along the way of my journey through AIESEC and I would like to share them with you:
Willing to understand yourself better and seek opportunities which are best for self-development through what AIESEC offers.
Expectations are best set among teams in LC and the general members in the LC itself in every beginnning to create understanding and to avoid unnecessary conflicts in the LC.
Learn to challenge yourself to explore more than what you intend to know or do as you may not realise how it may change the ways of how you look into things that are happening around you and the world.
Every chapter of challenges along the journey in AIESEC
Ask me what AIESEC is, and I shall tell you that "it is the most powerful learning experience" in one life
Reality about the world is what you obtain from the process of communicating with members within the AIESEC network, exists in over 90 countries - what brought around by the press aren't necessarily true
Never turn away from opportunities to learn and develop the potential in you and one of the many great ways are through AIESEC
WE LEARN and learning it's an ongoing and neverending process of a human life. I've chosen my learning path and which is through AIESEC. I hope more students in Taylor's Business School would not shy away from opportunities to discover and develop the potential in them and whether they're willing to learn, it's up to them!
AIESEC, a great family around the world indeed. "
A brief history of my involvement and how it had shaped me. I wished I could tell more but unfortunately, I've to work early morning tomorrow and my mind is going to black out anytime soon so gotta hit the sack shortly. Nevertheless, I hope they'll get the point of what I'm trying to tell them. :) God bless.
Anyway, the outing is slightly below expectation. I didn't even know that the Christmas has arrived after 12.00am. No countdown, no cheer. Nothing. Afterall, I still prefer and definitely enjoy church trips on the night of Christmas eve. There goes my Christmas eve in 2006 while I await the return of Christine to KL to celebrate our 1st Christmas together.
And I'll always remember what Bro Aaron claimed of themselves, as in the event of trying to deny any allegations that they've started meeting each other, "We're not together, not lovers,.... we're more than lovers!" I was like, "Huh?! More than lovers??? Wow! Please gimme a clue on how could that be?..." Lol.
However, they've failed to define what did they mean with the phrase, 'More than lovers'. Anyway, I guess I already have the answer in my head. I leave it to the readers on what did they actually mean with the phrase... Bro Aaron and Sis SH, I've posted this at last!
Cherishing every minute together brings me sweet happiness as I lay my eyes on her.
At times I might seem ignorant and I'm pretty sure that it annoys her but nevertheless, I never take her for granted even for a second.
Another photoshot taken by Cain while waiting for daily debriefing. In the picture (From left): Edwin, Jason, Crab - Yan Liang and Boy - Cal-Vin.
The MPH Special Offer of 'Threebies' will still remain unwrapped till I finish reading the book that I'm currently reading now, Falling Leaves (Adeline Yen Mah).
Blink - The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (Malcolm Gladwell)
The World Is Flat (Thomas L. Friedman)
Freakonomics (Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner)
Thong Lo is an area in the Sukhumvit district. That's where we stayed during our 6-day trip in Bangkok. Nice and peaceful area which not many entertainment but most tourists' choice of getting an accomodation in. How I wish I've actually taken a shot of the hotel that we've stayed. Lol.
Here I am, playing with handguns as being one of my motive in travelling to Bangkok. Christine and I had a few trainings in the shooting range in the Crocodile Farm in Semutprakan, outskirt of Bangkok. My shots have got much better compared to my last trip there. At least, more than 50% of the shots fired hit the target.
No doubt, for most of you that haven't tried playing with guns (besides virtual gun firing in the famous game, Counterstrike), Bangkok might be one of the places that gives you an experience in handling weapons like that. Take your time aiming with the real thing!
Not forgetting some shots of the crocodiles that roam the Crocodile Farm. Freaky...
Christine and I in Chatuchak Market, the famous weekend market in Bangkok. We shopped a lot and actually, that's what we've been doing for the past 6 days in the country.
Besides shopping, we've actually visited a few places of interest such as the Royal Palace. It's interesting to see how most of the buildings in the palace are covered in shiny pure gold, including the statues and walls too. Nice place indeed!
See! Pork burgers! Forgive me as there are no pork burgers in Malaysia and the burgers aren't as big as the Thai's McD burgers. Thumbs up for the McDonald's in Thailand!
After all, it's a memorable trip in Bangkok. Travelling with Christine has indeed produced some enchanted moments and we've defintely enjoyed ourselves very much there. We're fortunate to return just in time before the Thai military staged a coup in the capital of the country. I can't imagine myself trapped and stuck in the country as a result of the closure of the airport then. We consider ourselves really, really lucky to escape that.
1. Late in attending the tutorial which almost resulted in deduction of presentation marks.
I wonder what will be happening in the city when I'm there because it would be great to experience some local events. However, my emphasis is still SHOPPING! Since I enjoy shopping so much, it's time to shop till I drop there. I was paying extra for my tickets for a filght back on Sunday as I do not want to miss the weekend market in Chatuchak. I really want to enjoy my holiday to the fullest because coming back means I'm back to business again. It's time to take some time off from what I'm doing in Malaysia.
My new Adidas Predito II TF. Hope to score in my 1st debut in it...
