I joined AIESEC during my first year of university, and I am still convinced it could not happen to me any better experience.
AIESEC is a training for life, an infinite discovery of yourself, your capacities and your uniqueness. It’s believing together in a better world, shaped day by day by small decisions.
My 2 years as President of AIESEC in Urbino have been frustrating and exhausting in many ways, but they taught me the importance of looking at the positive side of things and to never give up. You grow up the most from the most difficult experiences, and I can say that this backround has been fundamental during my internship in Africa.
After that, I have been part of two very different teams at the National Committee in Milan: during my first term, as responsible for Exchange and Projects, I strengthen my belief on corporate sustainability and internationalism, while my second term as External Relations responsible has been a constant interaction with the corporate and non corporate world. It was a role that I truly enjoyed, and taught me a loot about communication and corporate environment.
Beside the immense thankfulness that I have towards the organization, AIESEC significantly shaped my personality, making me become more flexible, tolerant, adventurous and ambitious. Moreover, I am convinced that the positions that I have covered during my 4 years of AIESEC experience have been a great professional investment.
AIESEC is the ideal boat to use for sailing towards the horizon and beyond. Making a difference, in the end, is not so difficult.
I was on exchange in the same country (Ghana, AFrica), at same time and coincidentally, same company as her.
I am an Indian. So I was not that shocked by African laid back working and living culture. But for a European, for Federica, I can definitely say; very shocking. She used to get so pissed off at starting, seeing nothing to be in order. But then she adjusted, she became more open. She adopted ways to live and work in Africa and further, she even saw ways to improve.
Either one just adapts to one culture(in her case: Europe) or learns to be efficiently flexible to handle operations around the world.Its easy to say but so difficult to do.
If you really want to test yourself, do an exchange. Its an awesome experience and find real change within yourself.
Vivek
vivek_shr2@yahoo.com