TO INTRODUCE the “AIESEC brand” to its new members, Ateneo-AIESEC recently held its National Leadership Development Seminar (NLDS) on October 28 to 31 in Sunrise Holiday Mansion, Tagaytay City, Batangas.
“[The event was] basically targeted to the AIESEC applicants or new members so that they can learn more about the org in a fun way,” says Ma. Carisse Eusebio (III AB Psy), the event’s organizing committee president.
The NLDS was an avenue for the participants to realize what kind of leader they are, said Eusebio, since activating leadership is one of the organization’s advocacies. AIESEC is reputed to be the second-largest organization in the whole world, next to the United Nations.
She added that although the event was held last year by the University of the Philippines (UP), this year’s NLDS differed through its diverse activities.
UP Diliman, De La Salle University, University of Asia and the Pacific, and Ateneo de Davao University were some of the schools that participated in the seminar.
Two international trainees from Hong Kong, China, and Arizona, USA were also present as speakers in NLDS, which was attended by more than 100 participants.
Activating leadership
The NLDS engaged its participants in interactive activities, like group dynamics, personality workshops, and org overviews, said Eusebio. These aimed to develop their skills and broaden their knowledge on leadership.
Participant Rozelle Amor Carmen (II BS ME) said the seminar made her more interested in being active in AIESEC. “It also challenged me to step up and be a leader.”
“I also learned that we can be a leader in our own ways because we have different leadership styles,” Carmen added.
NLDS also opened the participants to new perspectives on leadership. Patricia Marie Rodriguez (I AB MEco) said, “I learned from the seminar that being a leader really means having the initiative to take responsibility.”
The “AIESEC experience”
Eusebio said that it is up for the participants if they want to pursue the “AIESEC experience they want,” or if they will continue leading after the seminar.
The next leg of AIESEC activities includes its annual exchange program, where delegates will be sent abroad in late November, Eusebio said.
