Eleven things I learned as a leader during MCP term

1. 
   We do not have the monopoly of wisdom. As leaders we have to continuously enjoy learning new things from ourselves, from other people. Asking about something we do not know is a form of humility. We have to be patient with our own learning and understand that any kind of improvement within ourselves requires patience. Learn from others.
2. 
   Knowing one’s weakness is one’s greatest strength.(Art of War, Sun Tzu) Oftentimes, we are only given a short time to fulfill our leadership role. Spending time trying to improve on something we are worse at, I consider as waste of time in the short run. Highlight the things you are good at and leverage on these things as you go through your term.
3. 
   Surround yourself with people who care about you- (friends, family). This is going to be your support group- the wind beneath your wings. When things turn bad, you always have a place to run to.
4. 
   When crisis arrives, be ready for everyone else to run away except you; you have to stay. In the middle of the storm, the leader does not only get soaked in rain, oftentimes, he/she goes out of his/her way to catch the lightning. It is actually not the kind of failure that matters, but the way you rose from it and dealt with the situation.
5. 
   When you reach the bottom of the ocean, there’s no other way left but to go up again. Feel honored if you are leading your team during troublesome times. It is an amazing opportunity to get to know yourself better and of course to leave a legacy with how you solve the situation. If you are facing trouble now, don’t ask why me? Instead ask, what do you want me to learn? When you are already in the bottom of things, do not lose hope. Tomorrows are made to bring new beginning.
6. 
   Sometimes all a person needs is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a patient heart that listens. Do not expect everyone you are working with to be brilliant. Sometimes it takes a little more time to see a caterpillar bloom into a butterfly. Sometimes it takes more time to mold an ordinary rock into an amazing sculpture. In AIESEC, we are given magical hands- to turn things into something more beautiful. But most things take time. Sometimes it takes generations to change one thing. That is why, again, we are not about direct impact. But in everything we do, it is an impact that is ought to be at its maximum; something that is affective or can spread the change.
7. 
   You are the only person who can label what you do a failure- John Maxwell. Remember it only takes one term year, one leadership to change the direction of the country. It just takes one year to screw it up too. Take all criticisms constructively. And do not spend your year trying to prove to people that you are worthy of your position. Spend your year imagining and doing everything it takes to have a better next year. Always aim that the term after you should be able to comfortably run the organization.
8. 
   Everything that comes our way is with a purpose. Life uses greatest error and deepest hurt to mold us into a person of worth and value. Remember the story of the pearl. It started from a little pebble that gets in a clam, this pebble irritates the clam. It hurts the clam every time it gets rubbed in to it. Thus the clam cries and cries and produces chemical that gets mold into a beautiful pearl. Let us all be pearls in our own way. Again, if there is one thing in life we are in control of, that will have to be our reaction towards things.
9. 
   The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake- Nelson Boswell. You are such a mediocre if you will let mistakes eat you. Consider these things are learning milestones, things that you have to go through but mandatory to not repeat.
10. 
    You have to take chances for the things that you care about. You have to find that one thing that will put your heart in peace.(From the movie, 8 below) This encapsulates my AIESEC experience. It is all about taking chances; for making things around me look brighter and better. Never be afraid of the things in store for you, or the things in your future. Life is meant to be mysterious- that’s what makes it beautiful. If you want something badly, or if you badly need to get things done, you have to take chances. Even if it means to risk every little beautiful thing that you are enjoying at this moment. Without being badly hurt, being desperately in pain, you will never understand how it is to be genuinely happy. Happiness is when amidst all the chaos, you see a smiling face, assuring you that tomorrows are created to signal a new day… at least for me.
11. 
    No one can put a good person down. I believe that I am a good person. I know that my values are intact and will never do harm to others. To AIESEC, I cradled it in my arms and tried to protect it the best way that I can. I imagine myself taking care of a thriving flower garden. In random places, a lot of flowers grow. The garden that I am in, is so beautiful. I the gardener because of tiredness, slept for a while, when I woke up, my garden is in ashes. There was fire while I was asleep. What do I do? Do I cry? Do I resent those people who mock me for falling asleep? No. I believe, that the ashes from my bountiful garden will be the same ashes that will serve as fertilizer to my land. All I have to do is to wait for the next flower to grow- a stronger, brighter, and a better PHES. Necessary evils come around to put order. War brings peace, Disasters bring silence. In my case, I had the humbling experience of being held captive. It put not just me, but the organization in danger. Now PHES is moving heaven and earth to put solution to this; this was a necessary evil. And in our case, it brought back solidarity in us.
    
    Thank you to APXLDS OCVP Marketing Francis Del Rosario for this wonderful message:
    
    “Beautiful things don’t just happen. They are made every single day, with much love, prayer and sacrifice. The many tasks we face each day can burden and oppress; but spending time with God each day; can bring relief from stress. In the end, only 3 things matter; how fully you lived, how deeply you loved, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”

Halmen, your 37th MCP