On life after being an active AIESECer
After the reading the Uncyclopedia article on AIESEC (highly entertaining read, and ALL old AIESECers will read it with a smile :-)), I decided to write down some thoughts about life after AIESEC. Or life after being an active AIESECer. Or being an AIESEC alumna. Whatever you want to call it. Because these thoughts have been obsessing me lately:
You know, after finally graduating, I was happy to finish AIESEC, to "leave" AIESEC, which I find normal, even if you love the organization. It gave me time to reflect opon my active four (four and a half?) years in @. I have realized that I am most grateful for this experience that has enriched my life in so many ways, and for the things I have learned, the people I have met. But it was also a time of exhaustion, huge workload, frustration, and one huge burnout. It's a huge dilemma. I miss and don't miss the conferences, the roll calls, the dances, the work. I miss and don't miss countless hours spent with teams. Most of my best friends are in AIESEC, and most of them still actively involved. I miss them, want to spend time with them, but I also feel that I need to "cut the umbilical cord" connecting me to active AIESEC-ship (haha) for good. But how can you do that without neglecting/losing your friends? For me, it's important to have a "clean cut" after AIESEC and my entering the professional world. It hurts, but it's also necessary to me, otherwise I think I'll go insane. I want(ed) to have a "normal" life again, like "normal" people, haha. And I'm enjoying it! However, I DO miss the energy level, the inspiration, the crazyness. I miss travelling. I love and hate regular working hours. Aaaaahhhh, I feel like a nutcase right now. I miss my friends, but I want them without AIESEC for a change! I am experiencing such conflicting thoughts, it's driving me crazy. Definetely not easy, even though I have always been the one who pushed herself to be critical, yes, even towards AIESEC. You have to keep a critical eye no matter what you do or no matter what it is, no? Otherwise, it really IS brainwashing. Or am I wrong about that? Does it only work if you're a 150% convinced? Is it just me who always needs to see the downsides of something when everybody is too positive, and to see the advantages of something when everybody is too negative? What I criticize about AIESEC is that, yes, we are mainly present at very prestigious universities. We claim to change the world by developing individuals who already have it all. I mean, how could their parents pay for their expensive education? I know this is too dangerous and generalist a claim. Plus, there are things called scholarships, Carissa. But I have seen some very very arrogant AIESECers, coming from a wealthy background and who never had to fight for anything, who are too thirsty for power, and just LOVE the word "leader" and who, once they're out of AIESEC, well I don't know, I don't think they'll become change agents, as we call them. And that's something else I could have endless discussions about: change agents. You could even dedicate a blog to that. How AIESECers are change agents in their life after AIESEC. I would say that maaaaany aren't. But can you really blame them? Another point I could speak hours about.
So, enough blabbering. I hope that some people out there will understand my rambling. Because I am not 100% sure that I understand it myself...
P.S. Is it "better" to work in the industry that you're interested in/passionate about, but that doesn't necessarily have a good people development/career development system and good processes (and salaries. Because YES, I admit it, after having lousy salaries throughout my studies, or none at all, and developing myself, I WANT an adequate salary, goddamit! A salary that doesn't only take years of experience in the business into consideration, but also facts like language skills, degree, leadership skills, and well, SKILLS in general!) OOOOOOORRRR
to work in an industry/for a company that has boring and intangible products, but that has a fantastic people development/career development opportunities, processes, bosses, structures, maybe even give you access to a gym cheaply, and maybe even has an internal kindergarden (hey, you have to think ahead), and adequate salaries ??????????
-> Is it possible to have BOTH ??? Or are my standards set too high, my interests too diverging? Maybe this is just what it is, "real life"? I need to think about this. And if I am willing to settle for less or not. And if not settling for less means that I am an idealist.
You know, after finally graduating, I was happy to finish AIESEC, to "leave" AIESEC, which I find normal, even if you love the organization. It gave me time to reflect opon my active four (four and a half?) years in @. I have realized that I am most grateful for this experience that has enriched my life in so many ways, and for the things I have learned, the people I have met. But it was also a time of exhaustion, huge workload, frustration, and one huge burnout. It's a huge dilemma. I miss and don't miss the conferences, the roll calls, the dances, the work. I miss and don't miss countless hours spent with teams. Most of my best friends are in AIESEC, and most of them still actively involved. I miss them, want to spend time with them, but I also feel that I need to "cut the umbilical cord" connecting me to active AIESEC-ship (haha) for good. But how can you do that without neglecting/losing your friends? For me, it's important to have a "clean cut" after AIESEC and my entering the professional world. It hurts, but it's also necessary to me, otherwise I think I'll go insane. I want(ed) to have a "normal" life again, like "normal" people, haha. And I'm enjoying it! However, I DO miss the energy level, the inspiration, the crazyness. I miss travelling. I love and hate regular working hours. Aaaaahhhh, I feel like a nutcase right now. I miss my friends, but I want them without AIESEC for a change! I am experiencing such conflicting thoughts, it's driving me crazy. Definetely not easy, even though I have always been the one who pushed herself to be critical, yes, even towards AIESEC. You have to keep a critical eye no matter what you do or no matter what it is, no? Otherwise, it really IS brainwashing. Or am I wrong about that? Does it only work if you're a 150% convinced? Is it just me who always needs to see the downsides of something when everybody is too positive, and to see the advantages of something when everybody is too negative? What I criticize about AIESEC is that, yes, we are mainly present at very prestigious universities. We claim to change the world by developing individuals who already have it all. I mean, how could their parents pay for their expensive education? I know this is too dangerous and generalist a claim. Plus, there are things called scholarships, Carissa. But I have seen some very very arrogant AIESECers, coming from a wealthy background and who never had to fight for anything, who are too thirsty for power, and just LOVE the word "leader" and who, once they're out of AIESEC, well I don't know, I don't think they'll become change agents, as we call them. And that's something else I could have endless discussions about: change agents. You could even dedicate a blog to that. How AIESECers are change agents in their life after AIESEC. I would say that maaaaany aren't. But can you really blame them? Another point I could speak hours about.
So, enough blabbering. I hope that some people out there will understand my rambling. Because I am not 100% sure that I understand it myself...
P.S. Is it "better" to work in the industry that you're interested in/passionate about, but that doesn't necessarily have a good people development/career development system and good processes (and salaries. Because YES, I admit it, after having lousy salaries throughout my studies, or none at all, and developing myself, I WANT an adequate salary, goddamit! A salary that doesn't only take years of experience in the business into consideration, but also facts like language skills, degree, leadership skills, and well, SKILLS in general!) OOOOOOORRRR
to work in an industry/for a company that has boring and intangible products, but that has a fantastic people development/career development opportunities, processes, bosses, structures, maybe even give you access to a gym cheaply, and maybe even has an internal kindergarden (hey, you have to think ahead), and adequate salaries ??????????
-> Is it possible to have BOTH ??? Or are my standards set too high, my interests too diverging? Maybe this is just what it is, "real life"? I need to think about this. And if I am willing to settle for less or not. And if not settling for less means that I am an idealist.
Labels: going mental?, Life oh life, reflection
posted by )i( at 4:22 PM
6 comments
