Meeting with my AP director.

It was awesome!



If action causes less regret than inaction, I see what it means today. Deciding to go meet Ryan Sheppard (the Asia Pacific Director for AIESEC) was a decision that I will be grateful about. It came as one of the most inspiring talks I have had so far. He shared with us so much that I wish my memory could be better so that I can remember everything he said.



Things I have learnt:

• When you are riding on a bicycle and you see a stone on the road, you look at it and keep telling yourself 'Don't hit the stone, don't hit the stone!' You will hit it eventually. Why? Your focus on the stone was directing you there. But if you choose to focus in the path you wish to take, you will get there eventually. So when things go wrong, don't JUST look at what is wrong. Focus on what you have done right. I don't mean you just ignore the wrong, but just, never lose sight of what you have done right. The focus on doing things right will help the wrongs to fade. To take it the personal level, don't just look at how to diminish your weaknesses. Focus on how to develop your strength. Your strengths will put off your weaknesses eventually. And why should you focus on your strengths? Because it is so much easier to be yourself than be who you are not!
  


• What comes out at the end of the discussion is the best that you can have (at that time). Don't hold on to your expectation. It will cause you to lose sight of the other possibilities, which are great too!
  


• Keep your eventual goal in mind. There may be a lot of ways to get there, but you should reach there eventually. Not lose track.
  


• As you get older, the high time will get higher, the low time lower. Understand that, come to terms with that, so that you won't get too emotionally affected by the low times. And whatever you do, the low times will always come. But if you quit at the toughest time, you may never be able to see the higher time which is oh-so-rewarding! Remember, the low time is there only to complement your high time.
  


• It'll start when it'll start. Don't force things happen, don't force people to speak.
  


• Disagreement is always there. Understand this as the normal phenomenon. Talk things out, smooth things the peaceful way.
  


• Finally, as part of the EB (executive board), you may have a lot of things you wanna do. But given your time and energy, if you set too many goals, eventually you can only do a bit of everything. Set few goals, and stick to it, and do a lot to them.

I felt that these are not all! I know I heard many many more. But sadly, I couldn't recall. *Urgh* Memory decay due to ineffective encoding. I must learn better information encoding technique to enhance my learning.

But, I must feel grateful to my eventual decision, more grateful that Ryan came down to NTU to shine some light to prepare me better before I embark on my EB life. During the session, there were moments of silence, but that's only because we were busy digesting his words! It was a really good talk. I'm lovin' it. EB path doesn't seem easier now, but I am more prepared.

Come what may.

By Wan Xin, 1st year ICX, LCVP elect ICX 07/08

LC NTU Rewards and Recognition Award part two is BACK!!

Dear fellow NTU AIESECers,

Exams coming soon yar… hope you all are studying hard. Anyway, it's time to award outstanding members in our LC again! But this time with a bit of a twist… =)

How this voting works:
Each member gets to vote for one person in each category. Just vote by replying this email and replacing the [fill in name here] brackets below.

Categories:
1. EB of the year (choose among EB members only)
This award is given to an EB member who has displayed leadership qualities during AIESEC events and gatherings, such as leading and helping other members or uniting people to do something together.
I vote for [fill in name here]

2.Hyperactive award
Do you always happen to see an AIESECer who is all bubbly and crazzzzy all the time? And has an infectious aura about him/her? Vote for him/her!
I vote for [fill in name here]

3.Bamboo award
In case you didn't know, bamboos are super fast growers—they can grow up to 4 feet (1.2 metres) a day! This award is presented to a member who has shown the most growth since he/she has joined AIESEC.
I vote for [fill in name here]

4.Ooh La La award
Vote for who you think is the sexiest / most adorable / most handsome / prettiest person in AIESEC NTU! Voters get a kiss from the winner! (subject to winner's willingness).
I vote for [fill in name here]

5. Funny Bone award
That funny AIESECer who always manages to make you laugh non-stop… show your appreciation for his/her free jokes! I vote for [fill in name here]


So please vote for the above categories by 11.59pm, 15 April (right before exam period) by replying to this email.
Results will be posted to everyone via email, and prizes will be given out whenever convenient (such as during the "are you afrAIDS?" event… so please attend!)

Happy mugging!

AIESECly yours,
PANG SZE FEI
LC Vice President People Development

More publicity

We have more publicity for AIESEC in Singapore, and specifically for AIESEC in NTU.

How come you asked?

Mr Hermawan Kartajaya wrote about our Branding, Innovation and Social Responsibility workshop in his personal blog. Click here.

And a new youth portal, Youthbeats.Sg also published a write-up about our event. Click here.

Yeah yeah yeah....throwing confetti!!

Hurry up....it's now or never!

Apply now for National Leadership Positions 07/08!!

AIESEC in Singapore is proud to announce that applications are open for some really exciting roles!

Member Committee 2007/2008 2nd Round Applications Open!!

The following positions have been opened:

• MC Director of Programmes - ICX : Open for International and Local applicants
• MC Honorary General Secretary : Open for Local applicants

Details are available in the application pack which can be downloaded HERE.
The application form is also within the pack.
Applications close on 28th March 2007 , 2300 hrs.
Please read the candidate's booklet (included in the application pack) carefully for more details.
For further questions, please contact Sharon at sharon.tan@aiesec.net

National Support Team 2007/2008 Applications Open!!

For the term 2007/2008, we have identified the need for a focused effort in a few key areas. Because these are underlying in all of our core functions in the MC team, we see the need for setting up a National Support Team(NST) that will be the key driver on a national level, thus providing support and attention in addition to what is being managed by the MC team.

The following positions are now available:

• National Information Systems Coordinator
• National Branding and Communication Coordinator
• National Coordinator for GEP Accounts

For more information, please download the application pack HERE.

Applications close on 28th March 2007 , 2300 hrs.

Please read the candidate's booklet (included in the application pack) carefully for more details.

For further questions, please contact Mayas at mayas.singh@aiesec.net or Sharon at mailto:sharon.tan@aiesec.net

Branding, Innovation and Social Responsibility Workshop: An insight into the world of marketing

If you missed the AIESEC workshop on Branding, Innovation and Social Responsibility you missed a learning opportunity of a lifetime.

Held on the 3rd of March 2007 at the NTUC Centre, the workshop was part of the AIESEC’s two day “Voyage Decouverte” (Voyage to Discovery) Preparation Seminar. In line with AIESEC’s promise of being, “the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential” the seminar was aimed at enlightening young people on various issues concerning career development.

Behind the scene....

It was a chance for the workshop attendees to get the facts about marketing straight from highly acclaimed authorities in the field such as Dr. Hermawan Kartajaya, one of those named by The Chartered Institute of Marketing-United Kingdom (CIM-UK) as one of the “50 Gurus Who Have Shaped The Future of Marketing” Miss Claire Chiang, Founder of Banyan tree holdings and chairman of Singapore Compact, Dr. Hooi Den Huan, Associate dean at Nanyang Business school and Secretary general of the Asia Pacific Marketing Federation Foundation & Wan Chew Yoong, the current Acting Head of Marketing & International Business in Nanyang Business School and the vice president of CPA Australia.

See, I've told you it's full house... *yippee

The first speaker, Pak Hermawan Kartajaya had no trouble capturing the audience’s attention with his very inspiring, thought provoking talk on Branding for sustainable development. In his talk Pak Kartajaya shattered the age old myth that branding was the art of making a sub-standard good seem superior. “Marketing is marketing and cheating is cheating,” he stressed in his speech. He stated that before marketing a product one must first define it and give it a clear identity. “Delivering satisfaction, Realizing aspiration and Practicing compassion” were some of the values he emphasized on for successful responsible marketing. He ended his presentation with Mother Teresa’s Anyway and Louie Armstrong’s “What a wonderful world.”

Pak Kartajaya’s presentation was followed by an equally impressive talk by Assoc Prof. Hooi Den Huan on Innovation and Market-novation. In his talk Assoc Prof. Hooi emphasized that the key to a successful product was in the uniqueness of the product. He said, “Sometimes it’s better to be a little different than a little better.” He attributed the secret of innovation to being imaginative as imagination was the avenue to expansion of knowledge. He recommended that the audience to expand into new horizons and not to be afraid of taking risks. “If its legal ethical and moral, do it if it helps you achieve your goals,” he urged.

The next speaker Assoc Prof. Wan Chew Yoong who spoke about Corporate Social Responsibility definitely gave the future CEO’s sitting in the audience some food for thought. He said that CSR was not just about the company’s looking good but being good as well. He spoke about how companies have the power to change and improve society. He said,”CSR is about delivering values to your audience.” In his speech he pointed out the difference between CSR and charity and quoted many examples where CSR helped boost companies’ profitability.



He said that although CSR usually results in higher costs it usually turns out a higher level of sales. Prof Wan also addressed the importance of inculcating values such as quality, safety and trust in the company.

The marketing workshop ended with a dynamic question and answer session presided over by Claire Chiang where the workshop participants got a chance to consult the marketing experts present on issues that they needed clarified.

Pak Hermawan, Assoc Prof Hooi Den Huan, Assoc Prof Wan Chew Yoong and Ms Claire Chiang

The workshop was clearly a success as the workshop attendees found the workshop highly interesting. “It was very informative,” said Jeiying Tan, a third year Nanyang Business school student who attended the workshop, “I especially liked Pak Kartajaya’s talk as he was both witty and entertaining.”

The Organizing Team with Pak Hermawan, Assoc Prof Wan, Assoc Prof Hooi & Ms Claire Chiang

By Hazel Almeida, @NTU 1st year, ER team

I wanna tell the world...

Once again, AIESEC NTU rocked the house (haha we rock everywhere!)

It was 12midnight. 8 hours away from the NTU Open House. The members were still passionately engrossed in their preparation!

(From left: Hazel, Rene, Wira, Jun Ming, Xie Wei and Wan Xin)

We showcased the public and NTU community with our amazing booth and dances.
Undoubtedly, we won the accolades and thunderous applause.
Our COOL decoration.

Get ready for our @dance performance on stage... *yeah
Ow..and Wira presented a balloon to the 'female singer' on stage *suit suit..

The girls were passionately introducing @ to the visitors...
Their hardwork is commendable ^.*



The guys did the same, they were very hardworking *impressive
But... why all girls?

What happened at our booth?
From attractive hats, games to shuai ge and mei nu!

Some of the team members...
Everyone really rocks

Lan, Zhang Ning, Rachel, Wan Xin, Han Ling, Lucia, Su Sheng, Guangyu, Jun Ming, Wira, Anubhav and Wen Feng -the EB applicants- as well as Samuel, Wang Fang, Xie Wei and Hazel -the OC-...Good job guys!

Thanks to Rene, Intan, Wang Jing, Sze Fei and Mayas too.

Thanks for such an awesome Open House experience.

My life could never be more than meaningful because of you, seriously!

By Alvin, @NTU LCPe 07/08

Struggle = victory

"I fall, I stand still... I trudge on. I gain a little... I get more eager & climb higher & begin to see the widening horizon. Every struggle is a victory."

By Helen Keller


Just wanna share this with you all :)