From Alumni about The Progressive Generation

1. What made you join AIESEC  and how has that decision influenced your future?

       My decision was based on a smile I saw when I met a certain volunteer. Her name is Denisa and she was a “Tineri Pentru Tineri” volunteer. She was 17 years old, just like me. Unlike me, she was 5 months pregnant. She didn’t regret it, just thought it had not come at the right time. So she decided to teach contraception to teenagers. Her face showed such contentment when she rubbed her belly and talked about being prepared for not only your life, but also the influence it has on the people around you that I still keep her smile and words in my mind, even if almost 8 years have passed since I last saw her.

           When I got to college (actually, it was my very first day) a guy stopped me on the hallway, put his hand around my shoulders and asked if I wanted to go out for a coffee. My first thought was “Hell, no!” Then I looked at his face. He had (and still has) the same smile as Denisa. I asked why. His reply was “Because you’re gonna be an AIESEC volunteer.” What I didn’t know then is that he is Gabi Caltu, the one that brought AIESEC in Ploiesti and its first president. So I filled up the Application Form, had my interview and got my acceptance form on my birthday. It’s one of the useful birthday presents I ever got.

        My AIESEC experience has mostly influenced me on a personal scale. I have had the amazingly unexpected luck of meeting people that have shown me how to turn my own and other people’s weaknesses into strengths.

           I have made it my goal to raise standards. Starting with mine.

2. Can you describe how you have progressed  as  a member in this organization?

       Over a period of almost 4 years I was a member of the Incoming Exchange, People Development and Communication departments. During this time I developed my skills as a trainer and an interviewer.

         I was a part of the Organizing Committee in 4 conferences, an OCP in another 2 and a project and a coach in a conference.

       I became an alumnus in 2009. Even if I moved in Brasov, I keep in touch with AIESEC Ploiesti and try to help out whenever I can. 

3. How can you define a progressive generation ?

        Man can not force comprehension. It must come by itself.

        When people realize that this whole world we are creating around us needs to be taught how to live so as not to self-destruct, they will turn to the necessity of doing things simply because they are the right moves.

         Progress is nothing without comprehension.

                                                                   Gabriela Iancu, alumnus AIESEC Romania

Soon more interviews will be posted!