The journey of #surpriseyourself in order to Make it Relevant ✨
“Every accomplishment begins with trigger event” — Demi 2023
If you get triggered, dive into it and see how it will create a start where maybe it’ll be the biggest accomplishment in your life. With this writing, allow me to tell you a story of how I can found the best version of myself at the current time through 7 years+ of a journey in a Non-Governmental Organization.
I was born in 1998 and raised in a rural city called Melawi, a part of Kalimantan Barat. I grew up surrounded by many people who have conservative mindsets. So many young people are not able to dream about going to higher education in another city; they don’t even dare to think about what it feels like to go abroad and experience something valuable — supported by my parents, where my high school graduate dad and my mom who’s not even able to finish her elementary school. But their audacity to achieve a decent life for me and 2 of my older siblings is what motivates me to go beyond. Besides my family and household background, I can proudly introduce myself as a clinical OCD patient since my first year in middle school.
OCD surrounding the fear of social rejection can be described as a persistent, recurring fear of being socially rejected, accompanied by actions done or avoided in an attempt to prevent being socially rejected or reduce anxiety around social rejection.
2016
Well, I started my journey in an organization called AIESEC in 2016 with rejection(s). Joined the first recruitment in 2016 but neglected my application because I was too ashamed of my knowledge as I came from a rural place compared to other students in the university who came from reputable schools in the province.
The second chance came, and I applied. I got rejected from the interview section, and yeah, that was my first try to fully join the organization, and I just needed to learn. But the third time, I was so obsessed and dedicated to learning for my application (OCD pride), but I still got rejected, and I was mad. Like really mad, haha.
Then I learn that “Sometimes, what we really need in life is a free chance to fail without having any judgment from our future. Because when you succeed, you create your future. When you fail, you create your future as well. After all, that’s a good journey”
2017
After a few weeks of drowning in rejection status, I got approached by one of the team leaders, and he offered to join directly. Well, I admit I was mad, but I also feel like a second chance might be the only last chance I got. It is take it or leave it.
After we know that there is an alternative, try to think whether we did try our best or not. If you did then that is good, recognize that part! If you think something needed to be improved, then try to think from another picture of perspective. -Demi
The first thing I sacrifice to do this project is my holiday. The second one is my time with my friends, family, and lover. The third one I sacrifice to do this project is my tears.
But then, I received this beautiful yet unexpected message from the man of a village that we developed through our project.
That is what kept me going until I became an official member in 2017, but then it was still the same as much cost I should give to achieve something. Until there was one moment that I really wanted to leave. I got elected as a digital marketing manager. But I don’t know how to design. And my team leader said that I needed to learn by myself.
I remember I designed my first post for AIESEC, and it took months to create one post using Photoshop, but I still received bad feedback.
“You can quit without having the chance to see how far you’ll go. Or you can stay and meet your future self at the finish line.”
It is all your choice. — My leader in 2017
Long story short, I decided to apply to become a higher role in AIESEC. To become a Local Committee Vice President, which I got rejected in the first round, then applied again, which turned out to give me the role of LCVP Marketing in 2018.
2018
My first experience as VP in AIESEC… We got the highest number of Marketing KPIs, The highest number of event attendees, and also Won a National Award.
But something is missing… because 3 of my member resigned and were dismissed, I had a fight with my member and had a fight with my closest ones.
No matter how much you give, you’ll never lose only if you know how it started and why you have to keep going. — Demi 2018
I realized that I could learn more about this organization and try to find the best version of myself as a human and as a leader.
2019
I decided to continue my journey. One more time… as Vice President… Trying to fix what’s broken.
But, I got a re-allocation. I applied to become Vice President of External Relations, but I got elected as Vice President of Outgoing Products for Youth.
Sometimes, the second chance that will come after you might not look the same as what you hope. -Demi
In the middle of my journey, I received a very beautiful statement from my member, which made me keep going on what I believe in here. She said…
“I Don’t know what I will do in the future. But, I want to be like you… “
-My Team Member 🥹🥹🥹
2019 was my biggest realization of what I am trying to believe in this organization, I improved the way how I lead my team, and I expanded my experience to the European continent, Belgium. Another important thing is that I can witness the way how many young people from my province improved themselves through the exchange program we managed at that time.
Then, it automatically becomes my why. I applied myself to become the top leader of the organization, Local Committee President.
2020
I got elected as the Local Committee President of AIESEC in Untan, but then the pandemic broke at the beginning of my journey as President.
At the end of 2019, I decided to join the product I run in AIESEC, which is Outgoing Global Volunteer, and do my project in South Korea. Then the first case of covid-19 happened in early 2020, which made me have to come back to Indonesia earlier.
On 1st February 2020, I started my journey with a very brave vibe where we were not afraid of the pandemic and just kept going with our plan and activities. Until we received a notice from the national team that we had to pause our operation due to the pandemic cases that have been out in Indonesia.
I feel like I didn’t sign up for this, and I don’t know what to do. Starting my first quarter crying five times a week. Asked by many stakeholders about the future of AIESEC. After a few months of doing nothing, we come out with many initiatives to make this organization survive and be relevant to what the world needed at that time.
I did not sign for this, but I am super glad it happened to me. Because every little victory counts. — Demi 2020
Turns out… It is not about how much tangible achievement that can be counted at the end. It is about how many surprises you get through in one year and years after your one experience. We celebrate our journey. Because there is no win or lose, it is just a good journey.
That is how I ended my AIESEC journey in university.
2021
I graduated with my bachelor and got my first job as Marketing Executive in an Indonesian Retail Company. But I quit after two months. Yes, maybe I miss AIESEC, but I realized it is more than that. I am looking forward to the whole journey I can get to improve my inner and outer development. Because what matters to me is what makes me fulfilled.
Then I resigned. Thus I applied to become National Vice President in another country. But in the end, I didn’t get it. After making the very big decision to resign from the job that so many people wanted, I got rejected again.
Everybody lost sometimes. Not just sometimes, but everybody had at least one loss in their life. That is how our future has been beautifully prepared. But, are we prepared for that?
No matter what path or to which direction you go with your life when you feel lost, remember that life is about surprising yourself, and life will also surprise you with so many unexpected things, which is beautiful. — Demi 2021
I am starting my journey in the state where I am so afraid of all of VPs, knowing the fact that I was as well a Vice President back then. I know sometimes MCVP can be a person that we will give so much hate and disrespect. Until again, the end of 2021, when I saw all of the members I led are developed. I feel fulfilled
No matter how much you give, you’ll never lose only if… You know how it started and why you have to keep going.
2022
I decided to apply myself a the highest role in the national team which is a country president. But then I got sick, and it was a very severe disease that made me doubt all the things I do in my life. I have withdrawn my application, and I even almost leave the organization directly because I feel so down. But then, after a few months of intensive treatment, I got better, and my parents said that “If continuing my journey in this organization can motivate me to live my life, then go on. Find another opportunity”
2022–2023, I am honored to move to Seoul, South Korea and serve myself as AIESEC in Korea Country President, and work together with the most beautiful people in my life.
One year passed from 2022 until 2023, trying to make everything we did in the organization become relevant thing for different layers of society. Year of trying to make this organization where you can enjoy the most memorable leadership experience in a very safe place to grow, where you can become the first generation who’s going to be the breakthrough, where you can develop the skill you wish to develop, and where you can create impact to the people around you, to Korea and to the world.
2023
I ended my journey in this organization on the 30th of June, 2023.
I learn that “Life is about Living” Living means processing to unlock the best version of yourself. To unlock it, sometimes, what we really need in life is a free chance to fail without having any judgment from our future. Because when you succeed, you create your future. When you failed, you create your future as well. After all, that’s a good journey. That failure will create a trigger, and every accomplishment always starts with a trigger event.
The live experience is designed to be as challenging as it can be. Of course, you won’t have only one challenge in a year. But it will be infinity, and it will always get bigger as time goes by. Because only if you know your why you can bear with anyhow.
You don’t have to find out that you are dying to start living… because in the middle of difficulties, always last opportunities. #surpriseyourself.
In 1998, I was born and raised in a very rural place in Indonesia. In 2O23, This boy comes to South Korea, becoming the national president of AIESEC.
Life is totally unpredictable, and you just need to take any chance that fulfills you and surprises you with how far you can go. That is how you make it worth it.
That is how you make it relevant.
That is how you surprise yourself.
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*Life update: I currently plan to build a non-formal school and library in my hometown. Will I be able to make it? We never know; I just need to take every chance that makes me fulfilled and try to surprise myself.
Cheers for another journey to make it relevant. Because the ideas from this vision of “make it relevant” will never end, it always becomes a legacy that anybody can continue.
