#ogcdp

Old Stories-[台灣機場出發小失誤] 一到機場，

排了好久的隊，

終於等到我掛行李了，

才發現忘了帶之前有美國簽證的護照，

當下真的非常緊張，

有種完了！不用飛的想法，

幸好現在台灣免簽了，

急急忙忙地拿起電腦準備登記，

準備登記時看見那一連串的表格，

好像要填到天荒地老，不由的又覺得死定了！ 當下的我拿著電腦衝去櫃檯，

跟櫃檯說：我不會填這些資料，可以教我填嗎？

幸好我有問，

結果居然有中文版的可以填寫！

順利地填完表格之後已經12:00了！

而我的飛機12:15分開始登機，

接下來一路安檢等等，

經過漫長的時間 

終於可以去祕魯啦～ 

今晚參加完AIESE FCU舉辦的行前桌遊會 

6/10

北大的EPPS

大家都很認真地參與整個流程呢！

By: Celine Constantino

I was the girl who always stayed on the sidelines. I was the girl who was afraid of taking risks because I thought I will commit mistakes which I will surely regret in the end. I got so scared of breaking my walls that I chose to stay in my safety net. I was conventional, mediocre.

My reason for deciding to go on exchange was beyond travelling to another country and experiencing a different country’s culture first hand. I needed to do something for myself which I have never done my entire life. I came to a point where I got tired of just playing it safe. Everyone seemed to be living their lives to the fullest, and I felt like I was being left behind. That’s when I told myself, “It’s now or never. The opportunity is already there. Will I let it pass? What if it won’t come again?”

Going on exchange was probably one of the major decisions I made for myself. It was perhaps one of the greatest risks I ever took. And you know what? I am really proud that I did it. Because if I didn’t, I would still be in my comfort zone afraid of exploring what is out there. As they say, there is no harm in trying. What matters is that you try. So I say, don’t be afraid of taking risks. Don’t lock up yourself in the box you built. Even if you are unsure, just take the opportunity. Life can be full of uncertainties but I believe that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Taking risks is not a sign of weakness. Not taking them is. If you’re scared but you do it anyway, that’s brave. And that is more than enough. Trust yourself and you will go far.

My exchange experience taught me so many things. Being independent, being good at directions and learning the cultures and life stories of the people I became friends with there are some of the lessons I brought home with me. My exchange experience was definitely not all good and enjoyable, but it was the not-so-good experiences that made my exchange experience a more fulfilling one. If you ask me if I will do it again, I would say absolutely yes.

When you go on exchange, you share a part of yourself with other people. You erase the “me, myself and I” mentality. You start to realize that it's not all about you. It's not just all about you travelling around and experiencing another country’s culture. It is about you making an impact to the people you interact with. It is about you leaving a lasting significance in their lives. When you’re there, you will realize that the world is much, much bigger as we see it in books, in films and in stories of other people. And that you’re only a small dot in the universe.  I may be a tiny dot in the world of the people I met in Vietnam but even if I am one, I am certain that I left a mark in their world.

It did not start in Vietnam. It started here in the Philippines. It began in an assimilation camp together with several other individuals who believed they did not have the potential to lead, to grow into more fulfilling persons. It was information overload for two straight days. I did not have the slightest idea about sales, finance and most especially exchange. The only thing I was sure that time was that I wanted to go on exchange. I wanted to see the world for myself. I wanted to accumulate new experiences. But as we went through the two-day camp and listened to the stories shared by AIESECers from UP Diliman, I realized that doing something should not only be for oneself. What I learned from that assimilation camp is you do something to help more people: to help them realize their untapped potential and see them develop into individuals they thought they would never become. There are so many reasons why I would want to quit but there is only one reason why I still stay. And until now, I am still as happy as I was last year when I chose the latter.

  xxx Take the great leap forward!