Conquering Roles, Conquering Fears

It's still clear on my mind how I was preparing for two events at the same time.  I remembered how I adjust my sleeping patterns, my acads workload, and the meetings for each event just to meet my responsibilities in both organizing teams.

Both of the projects started the planning phase at the same time (some time around late May).  These two events are the AIESEC Philippines' Experience Conference (XPCon) and Ateneo MISA's First General Assembly (1st GA).  I was the OCVP for Public Relations for the XPCon and the Project Director of the 1st GA.

*WARNING*
This is a really long post due to photos attached. This post consists of my own thoughts about the topic.



AIESEC Philippines - Experience Conference 2012


The Experience Conference was held last July 6 to 8 at Cristina Villas Mountain Resort and Hotel in Taktak Road, Antipolo City.  It was the first conference of the MC for this term, aiming to train the team leaders and high-performing team members.


I remember my experience of submitting my application late for this one. I really wanted to be a part of the organizing committee (OC) that I actually sent a Facebook message to Joan, the OCP.  I told her that I was still answering the application form yet the deadline had past.  She just told me to relax and submit once I finish the form.

Official Promotional Material of XPCon 2012

From planning to execution, I loved the experience.  I was once a delegate and I was really curious on how was it to be a part of the OC of a conference.  Doing the ocular trips to prospective conference venues, sending promotions and email blasts by schedule, and developing a registration system are absolutely worth the time that it became a very successful product.

My biggest contribution here, perhaps, is my attempt in making registration process as fast as possible.  I developed a system where delegates would just input their names and the software would automatically look for their other details.  The idea suddenly popped out from my head when, of course, we were talking about how the registration should go.  When we are trying to create a manual registration operations, the idea of automated registration system appeared and I proposed that it could lessen the time spent by the delegates in the registration area.  I was really nervous about it because it was an idea that could build or break the impression of the delegates about the conference. 

My greatest learning here as a member of the OC is the importance of proper and functioning data gathering system.  This experience made me discover how important information management in a team or organization is.  This experience would really help me to be the information management professional I wanted to be.  It all started by stepping up and accepting the challenge of being an OC member.

Keeping the tradition - XPCon started with roll calls from different LCs.

Delegates during one of their sessions

Delegates as they dance to AIESEC dances

A conference would be incomplete without socials night - XPCon 2012 Blacklight Party

I am an AIESECer

Our chair Gab Medina, as he taught a new AIESEC dance to the conference delegates

Sugar cubes!

The Organizing Committee

The Member Committee

OC + MC

Ateneo Management Information Systems Association - First General Assembly

As I wanted to serve my home organization before I go for JTA, I applied as the project director of the 1st GA.  This is my first time heading a project in this organization, although I was a part of the Board of Executives and the Associates last year as the AVP for Financial Development.  For this year, I really wanted a change for the trends of general assemblies since I entered college.  Now that I head the project, I stepped up to break the trend in theme and program format.

Official Promotional Material

During my first year until last year, the theme were female pop singers (Lady Gaga for 2010, Katy Perry for 2011).  My team broke the trend, fearing that Nicki Minaj would follow the trend (no offense to Nicki Minaj fans).  As my team tried to conceptualize for other relevant themes, we arrived at 90s music, since everyone in the organization was once a 90s kid and for sure they would love hearing those old pop music again.

We also made another breakthrough when we changed the program format of the past general assemblies. Before, the members would just sit within the venue and listen to all presentations prepared by the clusters, talent pools, etc.  For this year, we tried making it similar to the freshmen's OrSem.  Members would be grouped into smaller groups and they would go to different rooms where they will listen and participate to each cluster's presentation and activities.  After going through 5 stations, everyone would gather in Escaler Hall for one big party-like plenary.  

Though not all things happened as planned, I am very happy that this project was accomplished, at least 80% as expected.  Through this project, I was able to reflect more about myself as a leader.  I got the chance to see my strengths and weaknesses as well, which could greatly help my in my future endeavors. 

MISA Moderator, Jal de Vera (left) and AVP for Events, Geoff Dagamac (right)

MISAyaw

Our energetic hosts, Anj Uy and Jelo Andres

MISA Musika

With Ria Corral, VP for Events (leftmost) and Geoff Dagamac, AVP for Events (rightmost)

My hardworking project team!!

Conquering Fears

It is really difficult for me to do things for the first time, such as these two responsibilities in two different organizations for two different projects.  I always say that for me to be good at some things, I have to fail first. That was why I was so afraid because these two experiences are new to me and I feared that I fail this time.  XPCon was my first MC level project, while the 1st GA was the first ever event I managed.  Well, yes I somehow failed to do something on my two responsibilities and I really don't consider that I am successful as OCVP for Public Relations and Project Director.  But I always think that these failures are always a good start to be successful in the next tries.  Thanks to my two organizations who gave me such opportunity to develop myself as a man of my profession and as a leader.  

Conquering fears starts from accepting the actual challenge of conquering it. That's what I learned from these experiences. :)

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