AIESEC India, Author at AIESEC

4 Valuable Lessons I Learnt from my Exchange in Mauritius

Mauritius is a stunning island nation, known widely for its beautiful beaches, lagoons, and reefs. However, Naman Ahuja, who went for a Global Volunteer Programme as an Exchange Participant has a lot more to add, besides the aesthetic landscapes of this republic.

This is the story of how this exchange helped him develop his personality while adding to the positive changes that these programmes sought to initiate in the world!

“IT HELPED ME LEARN MORE ABOUT MYSELF”

“The exchange made me self-aware in so many ways! I got to know and explore my own abilities and capabilities. For example, I didn’t know I could deliver a speech in front of 50 students and teach them too!” says Naman, who had been a reluctant introvert.

“Another self-realization I had was about my physical fitness.

We went on a lot of trekkings and that’s when it posed a challenge. I realized I wasn’t as fit as I needed to be to go hiking, unlike everyone else (who did not face this problem). It made me self-aware that I needed to build my stamina in order to live up to the tasks which were essential for my exchange projects.

If there’s something I couldn’t do, I had to work on that.

One more thing that this exchange helped me realize was how efficient I was with introducing myself to a group of total strangers, getting to know them and building a strong bond with them. These are qualities I thought I really lacked because I never really put myself out there.” he adds.

“I LEARNT WHAT IT MEANS TO EMPOWER OTHERS”

Communicating effectively in diverse environments, and engaging with others to achieve a bigger purpose play a pivotal role in empowering others, which is a key component of AIESEC’s leadership development model.

“My job role was to work on projects that were assigned to us: The Women Empowerment Project with the National Women Council of Mauritius, which was a huge deal.

There were three projects under this: Awareness Project, Self Defence project and the IT project.

One of the best things about this programme was that we were allowed to introduce our own projects, give our inputs and ideas for an entirely new scope, and they would create it for us! It was absolutely amazing.

“We worked with the National Women Council, and all their employees were women. Me and two other EPs from Kenya and China were the only males working in the organization, and all the other people who worked on this project were women!

The team I worked with conducted workshops on Information and Technology, teaching women basic Microsoft skills, etc. We taught around 500 women regarding this.

We also took part in teaching specially-abled children during some days of the week, and it was an enlightening experience.

In the self-defense project, we had to organize a proper workshop and invited a self-defense trainer from Lebanon, the only woman in the entire middle-east for the job. So we understood the level we were actually working on.” he adds.

“I BECAME RESILIENT AND SOLUTION ORIENTED”

“One time we were locked in our house for two days, because of a Level 3 Tropical Cyclone that was going on at the island.

It was a sudden crisis, as we had to arrange food for everyone, and we had no external resources in case we ran out of food! Besides that, we also had to come up with ways to protect the house we were living in from the physical damage of the cyclone.

So the ten of us came together and planned out how we were going to protect the windows, we rationed food and cooked it together to effectively manage the limited resources we had!”

Hence, being solution-oriented in times of crisis is an essential lesson that one can learn from such circumstances.

“I LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES AND BROKE MY MINDSETS”

People from all around the world aren’t so different, according to Naman.

Living together with people from different countries under one roof taught him that people may look different and dress different, speak different languages, but they connect. Because deep down we are all humans and that is the power of human connection.

“There wasn’t a huge cultural shock as I expected. Mauritians are mostly of an Asian-African descent, and I kind of felt at home, within a few days of being there.

The nationalities of other EPs differed: there were people from Kenya, Australia, China, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Taiwan. These were people with dynamic personalities who helped me develop and even discover the hidden aspects of mine.

One thing I was worried about before going for my exchange was what do people think of India? Everyone I met in my exchange loved India and were totally fascinated by the Indian culture, so being the only Indian in the exchange was an amazing experience.

The one thing that absolutely stood out for me were the people of Mauritius. They are one of the kindest, most considerate and grateful people that I have ever come across. They are always there for you.

I didn’t know the local language, but whenever I traveled alone, I felt that there were people who would help out with the smallest of things. Even if I found myself lost for a second, they helped out and were super-approachable.

I still remember some of the shopkeepers and the people I used to wait with at the bus stand.”

“EVERYONE SHOULD LIVE AN EXCHANGE”

For as short as it is, and exchange really teaches you how to bond with the people, be vulnerable, strong, flexible. You connect with those with similar vision and goals as you, you achieve something by putting in your hard work, and appreciate the result together!

Naman’s experience changed his way of seeing life and helped him become a better version of himself. If you want to read about another breathtaking country, check this article about Vietnam!

If you also want to live an experience like this, check our exchange programs at aiesec.in!

What happened with Section 377, simple and clear!

“FREEDOM IS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE”
– Archibald MacLeish

Yes! LGBT & Section 377 are trending topics in India today. Time is changing and people started to think progressively (finally).

This has been a topic of debate everywhere and different people have different opinions. But the fact is: people should be allowed to be who they are and love what they love.

It is a part of personal freedom! And that’s exactly what was taken into consideration yesterday when the Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality (section 377 of IPC).

Continue reading “What happened with Section 377, simple and clear!”

5 simple habits to improve how you empower others

To empower means “to give somebody power or authority” and also “to give somebody a sense of confidence or self-esteem”.

When I joined AIESEC, initially, we were told that a good leader has 4 qualities, i.e. being solution oriented, a world citizen, knowing how to communicate effectively, and being able to empower others.

The value that caught my immediate attention was “empowering others”. It was difficult for me to understand how does a person empower other people in everyday life.

I was having a rough week back then. I remember sitting on a bench alone at the Gurudwara near my home when an 11-year-old girl walked up to me with a big smile on her face. She asked me what it was that I was so worried about. I told her everything that I thought was wrong with the world and how I could not do anything to make it a better place.

She held my hand and said, “There are no great deeds. Only small deeds, done with great love.”

I was completely taken aback and amused by how an eleven-year-old girl could teach me such a valuable lesson about life.

We may not stop fights or serve those in the refugee camps today, but we can do something for someone every day.

Not only does that mean you are not insignificant, but it means that you can, in fact, change someone’s world every single day and be a leader.

I once read it somewhere that a leader isn’t always the person who leads or someone who is working for a refugee camp or guiding 10 people in an organization. A leader is a person who, by just being himself, makes an impact on the other person’s life. That ultimately adds to changing the world for the better.

“See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.”

– Dr. Wayne Dyer

The inspiring and kind people who I’ve met throughout my AIESEC journey are incredibly influential leaders. It is worthwhile understanding their thoughts, the way they approach life and, more specifically, the way they treat others.

Meeting them has had a profound effect on my life.

One of the lessons I learned through my interaction with them was the importance of empowering others. And to my surprise, it can be done easily, with 5 basic habits:

1. Don’t criticize without offering help.

Every one of us has the magic power of empowering other people simply by generously giving praise and showing encouragement to help them realize their underlying potential.

“Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement.”

– Dale Carnegie

Even if something can be improved, criticizing just for the sake of it, without offering any support will not make any difference. But if you show development points, and offer help or suggestions on how they can be improved, that is empowerment.

2. Drop the judgment.

Empowering others is to understand that every person is different and we can’t judge others based on our conditions or beliefs.

Just because someone doesn’t have the same ambitions as you, or even if they don’t learn as fast as you, you should still support them without judgment, but trying to place yourself in their shoes. Maybe they just have a different learning curve, or they absorb information in different ways.

Or maybe, they didn’t have the same opportunities as you and had to settle with a less ambitious career.

For instance, in our daily life, we meet the cashier at the supermarket, the waiter at the café, the guy who pumps your gas, the doorman, the street cleaner, and the janitor. These people are not transparent. They are people just like us.

We can all make them feel worth it and cared for, just by smiling at these people, inquiring about their wellbeing, thanking them for the services they provide, and wishing them a good day. It can make a lot of difference in their life, receiving some kindness.

Empowering others means being happy for them, and praising them for their accomplishments, whatever they are. Praising them in any way possible. Always.

3. Empowering others means empowering yourself.

It’s only after you’ve conquered what lies within you can you uplift other people. You have to be kind to yourself first. Pull yourself together every time life throws you down. Empowered people empower others.

Impacting the life of someone else sure is special, but first, you have to make an impact in your own life.

4. Show more appreciation.

“Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit. We cannot flower and grow without it.”

– Jess Lair

To empower someone, you have to help the person feel proud of the good things they do. And the simplest way to achieve that is to express your appreciation for everything that person does for you, large or small. This again encourages people, as they know they’re doing well, and wish to improve more every day.

It is time for us to start looking more deeply into the good of other people and tell them, “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”

5. Let them make their own decisions

Hold back from giving answers to your small brother. Let him decide what should be the solution to the problem in front of him. Help him understand the importance of being a good decision maker.

And not just your brother, but anyone you meet. We have a general human nature of giving instruction to other people as if our way is the best way. Stop for a while.

Hold space open for creative thinking. This will require discipline and patience on your part. Provide hints or prompts to help steer someone in the right direction. Allowing them to discover the answer will empower them in future situations.

Empowering others also empowers us.

Empowering others makes the world a better place. It’s one of the most important acts of kindness one can do for his fellow men.

Every nod, every smile, every interaction can completely change the course of someone else’s day. We can either wield that influence in a positive or negative way. The people who I met chose the former.

Smile at each other. Offer some kind words and a genuine caring for those around you. Build people up, instead of knocking them down.

It just takes tiny acts throughout your day. Create these habits with everyone you interact with to empower the world.

If you want to know more about how we can empower each other and make a difference, take a moment to read about these “9 volunteers who are making a difference across the globe”.

And if you’re curious about how AIESEC can help you become a better leader, find out more about our programs at aiesec.in/students.

Written by

Studying bachelor’s in biotechnology, Aayushi is a really passionate person, who loves to read and travel. She believes people, places, and stories have the power to change anyone and help them understand the purpose of life.

5 things to keep in mind before giving up on your goals

Have you ever had one of those days when you just want to give up on everything, when you just feel hopeless?

We’ve all been there. The point where we know the stress has completely taken control of us and our minds have made us believe that our dreams are absolutely impossible to come true.

It’s tricky sometimes, isn’t it?

Trying to find our place on this planet. Tapping into our inner desires.

Sometimes we know what we want but not how to get there. Sometimes we know “this isn’t me”, but we have no clue who “me” is. And sometimes we think we’re already there, then something out of the blue happens and we realize, this isn’t me at all.

At each stage, there are pitfalls that can keep us looking in the wrong direction, stuck in fear, or stressed about how to move forward.

I know, We’ve all been back and forth through all of them.

And just when we’re ready to quit, we’re closer than we know. There’s an old Chinese saying that I think is really true. It goes like this:

“The Temptation to Quit Will Be The Greatest Just Before You Are About To Succeed”

And even though we may realize that we are at a point in our lives where it’s about all or nothing, now or never, and at these moments, the questions and doubts are just so strong, tricking us into believing that we are not capable.

These are the days when we need something to lift us up and help us keep going because we just cannot pretend that our dreams don’t exist or they don’t matter.

Through it all, I would like to share 5 simple laws to help you navigate the ups and downs of discovering and following your dreams.

1. Break the Big Goals Down into Smaller Steps

Tiny steps in the direction of the goal are still steps in that direction. There is a real magic to be found in connecting the steps together consistently.

Big goals are fine as a guiding star, but they need to be supported with smaller steps. Wishful thinking will not make it happen!

Want to write a book? Get started by developing a regular writing habit. Maybe try an example of writing one line a day to get that done or try something else that works. Whatever the objective is, developing a regular practice will help get us closer to it.

Take up small steps every day that support this happening and that keep you accountable, while still being achievable. Commit to this and watch amazing things happen.

2. Learn the difference between an inner desire and unhelpful mind talk.

Most of us know the value of listening to our intuition. But it’s confusing sometimes.

The limitations we perceive are put in place by us and only us. Silencing the critical voices of others and that critical voice within will allow you to get in touch with your desires and the possibilities of achieving them.

It is the “impossible” that stretches us, shows us what we can become, and aids in the formation of who we are meant to be.

When we believe in our potentials, our lives will take on a whole new expression.

“I can’t” turns into “I will.”

Remember whatever thoughts we put out into the universe is how our life is going to unfold.

3. Stop worrying about how to get there—or if “there” is even a good idea.

Human beings are wired for safety. This is why we want to control what our next step is going to be. We try to avoid the unknown.

But no good thing has ever happened from the known. To get to where we really want to go, there is no pre-drawn map. The good news is that we don’t need one! All we need is the next step. And this is something we already know on the inside.

Regardless of our beliefs, trust that life will never put us against something more than what we can handle.

4. Accept the failures.

Surrendering to the failures is when most people give up. We’re scared of failing.

It is the biggest milestone standing in between our ability to make our dreams come true. And before we even know, failure has taken the best of us and we like to hold on to the feeling that it is rather impossible.

What we fail to see is that failures are, instead, a series of events that are guiding us to the end destination. That’s all they’ve ever been. A ladder to our dreams, to our untapped potentials.

There’s a saying in Hollywood that goes, “When you fail, you fail upward.”

That’s because failure is just a stepping-stone toward success. Without first making mistakes, we wouldn’t know how to succeed. We just need to believe in our ability to make things happen and hold on to the vision that has been fuelling us ever since.

5. Remember why we are doing this.

Making a lunge for what’s important to us is scary.

Always is.

Every time we have followed what was in our heart, most people thought we were crazy. But you know what? The voice of derision we most need to watch out for is our own.

Anyone who has experienced any kind of success understands that it does not come without hard work, discipline, and dedication. When we finally come from behind and achieve the impossible, the triumph seems so much greater.

Determination, commitment, and a burning desire to see our dreams through is the key to achieve any goal our intuition guides us toward.

Finding our way is a lot about getting out of our own way.

Letting go of ideals that have been imposed on us. Taking leaps, stumbling and getting up. Trusting our inner guidance.

And remember, always, we’re doing fine. Even when it seems like we’re making a mess of it, we’re not.

We hope these tips can help you get better at achieving your goals; just don’t forget that the only one who can get it done is you.

Let us know in the comment sections below what your goals are. We’ll surely try to help you achieve them. Nothing that comes easy has ever been worthwhile. Claim it and make it to the top.

If you liked this blog you may also like: 5 Career Options Out of the Box

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5 Out of the Box Career Options for You

Gone are the days when Engineering, Medical, Law, and Administration were the main career ways one picked after completing school.

As we approach the new decade, we can look back at the past and see how far we have come.

Thinking out of the box is really the mantra of today!

Odd, remarkable and unusual career decisions are staying for a long term.

Offbeat careers are getting to be popular step by step. A majority share of youthful people is deciding on these fascinating, challenging and new options, as a zeal to prove themselves.

If sitting in an office workspace from 9 to 5 isn’t what you’re looking at, then presumably the following career alternatives may interest you.

The following are the 5 careers which are amusing to seek. If passion and power along with hard work is placed in can likewise bring success:

1. Environmentalist

The world environment is going much worse day by day, as we use our natural resources indiscriminately and fail to manage our waste.

Our total environmental conditions are deteriorating in everyday life. Yet, we do not concern ourselves to save us from different types of natural calamities and avoid the extinction of several types of animal species groups.

It’s true that only human are responsible for polluting environment, but if we have a little bit of concern then it will make us a positive thinker to save our environment.

Environmentalists are those who work for the protection, preservation, and conservation of the environment.

They deal with the conservation of land and water resources and protection of the environment from pollution and industrial wastes.

Globally the demand for environmentalists is estimated to be around 11 percent by 2020. As the need for the solutions related to environmental issues is increasing, the demand for environmentalists is increasing too.

2. Creative Photographer

Are you one of those people who’s famous for snapping pictures at parties? Or who enjoys capturing various shades of life through a lens?

If you want to earn a living using your creative side, but need more information, than this may be the best option for you.

A career in photography offers the following options:

– Photojournalism
– Fashion and advertising photography
– Nature and wildlife photography
– Event photography
– Still photography
– Travel photography

If you have a passion for photography, there’s no reason why you can’t make it your profession — be wise and practical and go for it!

3. Travel Writer

Wanna get paid for traveling? Travel blogging is a dream job for most of the people.

You get paid to travel and live at adventurous sites like Alaska, Sahara Desert, Ecuador, Brazil, Ghana and Zimbabwe etc and share stories.

Every day is different and exciting!

You’ll never get bored of this job. But, it’s not easy!

In all honesty, travel blogging comes with its challenges. Becoming a full-time travel blogger requires TREMENDOUS hard work and commitment. Besides putting in long hours, you need to keep at it for a long time that could be years too before you see any kind of return.

But is it worth it? Hell yeah!

4. Social Media Manager

Are you among the Social friendly people who are being taunted by their parents for being active throughout on Social Media?

Do you have a passion for operating Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and finding innovative ways to connect with people?

Then this is your type of job!

Being a Social Media manager goes beyond just posting updates to your company’s social media profiles. It also includes engaging with your audience and looking for new opportunities to increase reach and visibility.

Great communication skills are also a must since you will have to do a lot of interaction every day.

Evaluating, examining and adding to activities on sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Google additionally, Pinterest and Instagram is a day by day undertaking for the manager.

5. Data Analyst

Every business collects data, whether it’s sales figures, market research, logistics, or transportation costs, but not everyone can actually understand what these numbers mean, correct?

A data analysts translate numbers into plain English. It’s a challenging and very much needed profession nowadays.

If you have a knack for picking apart collected data, drawing up actionable insights, and putting together pieces of the big data puzzle, check out the growth path of a data analyst.

You have to extract meaning from and interpret data – which requires methods from statistics and machine learning.

Do You Have What It Takes to think out of the box?

Jobs for creative people abound. Whether you’re agile with a camera or can write like Shakespeare, there’s a career field where you can excel. These are just 5 careers but there are thousands more and I wish I could put them all in this blog.

With new startups coming every day and the marketplace becoming more competitive by the day, the advancement of a person (and the company) rests on the ability to think and act creatively.

Apart from being creative, we should always be positive and learn from our failures. Even successful people that we admire have failed several times. But, they always learned 🙂

Do you know any other odd and amazing career? Tell us about it!! We’d love to know it 🙂

We at AIESEC have many projects with startups around the world which brings out the creativity in you.?

If you’re interested and feel that you can contribute, check more about the program here.

If you like this post you may also like: “Great things never came from a comfort zone”

Written by

Anisha Bhawanani is graduated in Marketing and Finance and loves writing. She is a happy go lucky girl with a head full of dreams, very passionate about traveling and exploring different cultures. One day she wants to win a man booker prize.