AIESEC MYLDS 2009

04 DECEMBER 2009 |PRE MYLDS DAY 1

It was just a little over 7 AM as we entered Universiti Utara Malaysia’s compound, and the sun was still shy over the horizon. Everyone stretched and breathed in the fresh morning air after 6 hour long bus ride from KL.

Although most of us came from the same University and at least 4 months into AIESEC, we don’t know much apart from placing a face and a name together. Logically, why should we expect to know new people from a completely new background, when we are not even familiar with our own people, correct?

So this is everyone’s first step: be proactive, take initiative.

We were set with our own partners and took turns introducing each other to the whole room. There were laughter and everyone started to relax into a more comfortable state.

We then broke into our respective groups, in charge of different assignments: Global Village, Booth display and Roll-Calls. Though so, everyone was nearby enough to catch up with everyone’s development and this induce regular feedbacks from each other.

Indirectly, we have created a bond stronger than we had been just 3 hours back today. And that’s only the tip of an iceberg of what MyLDS could offer; unbeknown to all at present.

05 DECEMBER 2009 |PRE MYLDS DAY 2

One last day before the first day of MyLDS! Everyone was in a hurry to finish what’s left to our Global Village sketch and Booth Display. There were no seniority in the room; just mutual respect, leadership sportsmanship and a lot of teamwork.

There was no formal education going around but we were already developing our own soft skills by being patient, listening and most of all, valuing each individual’s ability.

It was usually the more boisterous group of people coming up with opinions but there also moments when we step down and thought of those who were not given enough chance to be involved.

We heard more of them since then. There are indeed differences between those whom are used to see the world front the front row, and those whom had always observed from the back as a whole. The collisions of opinions were a challenge that tickled each one of us.

And it was hands on experience like this that we see new approach, fresh ideas and room for learning.

06 DECEMBER 2009 |MYLDS DAY 1

First day hoot! When reaching the area around a plenary hall in which we will came in and out daily of for the next 5 days, I could see a sea of youth chatting animatedly, anxiety written in some of their faces. Everyone was expecting a big change.

We were organized, tagged and welcomed with the warmest, loudest, greatest way one could only expect in AIESEC environment! We were all still faces of strangers but our spirit soared high to contest in both spirit and pride to own LC.

Geraldine Sandra Sebastian came in like a charm that indirectly connected all the fledging AIESECers in the room. I personally find her amusing, talented and smart in both the way she portray herself and how she delivered information.

She’s one leader I would like to emulate.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels so.

Pumped up, we went on for respected class of personal mastery and self development. I was in Personal Effectiveness and Conflict Management.

Personal effectiveness by the book had little to offer me since it had all been common sense. But seeing familiar situations being visualized in the class, I personally realized how I tend to procrastinate. The pang was a wake-up call, and any initiative after this is a change for a better person.

Conflict management was more interesting as they relay daily challenges into separated types and ways to deal with them. One of the greatest things in these classes is that we are offered simulations to deal hands on with lessons taught and how to apply them. This gives everyone a chance to learn in various ways and understood within their own pace!

06:30PM and we are ushered back to change for Gala Dinner that night. This marks the opening of MyLDS 2009 and sets a more casual chance for guests to network with each other. More so, it also shows that leaders do not only uphold their status quo by their work but also by self presentation. Dress codes were critically observed but even with the suits, heels and ties, having fun and getting together were never out the window!

I always thought that square dancing was just another way to boost self confidence in a less formal way.

When everyone else is doing it, why won’t you dance too? It takes courage to go in front and perform either way.

07 DECEMBER 2009 |MYLDS DAY 2

Are you ready for a business challenge?

That was the topic of day 2! Though many of us were still quite lost with how things are going about, you could see a few irritated gestures when asked to move about the building to attend more functional classes.

Some of the classes are Product Packaging and Selling, Effective Communication and Quality control.

But as the end of the day draws to a close, we had a simulation which involved running our own LC and competing against each group for quality raising! This was not only a test of knowledge but also on personal development skill as each group consist of different people of different university, backgrounds and ethnicity that only had about two hours since we learnt each other’s name!

The whole plenary was a hustle of noise of presentations, plans and healthy competition. If they had come in today as just another youth; today had changed them into a youth that strive for a meaningful goal in life.

08 DECEMBER 2009 |MYLDS DAY 3

There were more noise and connection as we entered the plenary today. Some had taken initiatives to go out of their comfort zone and get to know more people from outside their norm. It was something that brought a smile to your face, seeing two very different people talking like they’ve shared a whole life of similar life experience together.

The world could be just as peaceful, and we are the generation that can make that possible.

Leadership was put on our list today! It has only been the third day but it was obvious that a majority preferred simulations over lecture style education. Hands on experience give us the chance for trial and error.

Like Sandy said: AIESEC is a platform where we can go out there and try, try, TRY! Without fear of being ridiculed, criticized and blatantly judge. It is from mistakes that we learn to know what is right and what is wrong and from there choose to be a better person as a whole.

09 DECEMBER 2009 |MYLDS DAY 4

World issues are also a priority in AIESEC while developing the right mindset of young leaders. We were introduced to real talents whom are in-the-flesh proof that nothing is impossible if we had the will to achieve it.

Joel Neoh was one.  Entrepreneurship was his forte.

HIV was another issue that is widely known but little acknowledge. This was the same to environment sustainability. Everyone talks about it, but no one was willing to go out of his way to do something about it.

Having said that, among AIESEC delegates itself I have found a promising young man whom had made environment sustainability his LIFE. And I sincerely admired his courage. Not only do he talks passionately of making the world a better place but with a bachelor in science, he was determined to head towards a simpler lifestyle in exchange for a greener earth.

That young man is Ricky William of Adelaide, Australia. An intern under UUM LC.

Not many youngsters of his age would even think of trading a safe, fulfilling future with a cheap assurance of preserving for a generation we may not live to see. I for one, don’t, admittedly.

But I was so moved; I decided to take my own step: think twice before buying new shoes. Haha. It’s a small step, but it’s towards a better and I think Ricky and Mother Earth would be happy with the slightest positive change.

10 DECEMBER 2009 |MYLDS DAY 5

The highlight of today: Election of President 2010/2011!

Have you ever fidget in your seat because two of the greatest people in your community were fighting to champion an important position?

That’s how most of us felt. Although the cheers and hoots were vicious when we welcome the candidates, you could feel the tension when each representative cast their speech. Question and answer between them and the audience were putting some young delegates nerves on ends as we later on discussed privately after the result were out.

A hearty congratulation to Mohamad Alif!

Global Village was next and everyone was bubbling with excitement as we see booth being set up, last minute recital, and each LC coming together to give one last shot at being the best! Throughout the night we could hear laughter roaring throughout the hall when each LC presented their country, each with their touch of creativity and originality.

The conference was coming to an end but nobody spoke of it. You could see people walking about, exchanging formal handshakes, determining networks with others and taking pictures as mementos.

A good leader would leave an impact to others, but a great one would appreciate the impact others made unto him.

11 DECEMBER 2009 |MYLDS DAY 6

There are those who said that 6 days is too long for someone to just learn about leadership. For us who’s attended MyLDS would understand why even these few days were not enough; because we didn’t come to learn about leadership.

We came to be one.

-By Ashilla Sabin-

Comm Executive