Sharing

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.