Reflections A Year Later

This past weekend, I quasi-attended AIESEC Canada's Western Regional Conference 2010 held by AIESEC UBC in Vancouver, BC.  I say quasi because I wasn't a delegate, but attended their opening and closing plenary, the banquet and night events. 

I learned a lot this past weekend.  About myself and about the same conference held last year.

After WRC 2009 and the initial happiness that it was finally over and well pretty well, I was angry for awhile.  I was angry at my team because some fell short of what I hoped them to become.  I was angry at the national team because there was a lack of communication  and no one knew for sure what was going on in the planning stages.  I was angry at the conference team because there was no pre conference to hash out exactly what was going to happen.  I was angry that the conference team did not uphold their side of the conference expectations - always running late, not being prepared...

I was angry at myself, because I felt I failed the project and my team.  I felt that it was up to me as the leader to make sure everything was going well and that the conference was going to run smoothly.

There were so many things I wish I could have done different and other things I wished I could have spent more time on.  There were so many regrets and problems.  I felt it could have be done so much better and I was angry and frustrated for a very long time.
But now a year later, and after watching another WRC unfold, I think I made peace with many things that were bothering me.  Everyone and every time has their own unique problems and its about how you solve them and overcome it that can make something a success. 

By observing this conference, and getting a behind the scene glimpse, it made me thankful for the experience that I had.  I had two amazing individuals to support me through the days leading up to the conference and during it as well.  Without them, I have no idea how I could have survived.  They were there for me when I needed them, and I guess in the spirit of this weekend, I should be very thankful for the experience I did have.

I was talking to a past president of an AIESEC chapter when he told me that WRC 2009 was probably one of his favourite conferences, and despite it being a year later, it still makes me incredibly proud and happy.  Yes, we talk, but I wouldn't exactly call us close friends, but we're not acquaintances either, but at least someone that is out of my immediate circle without any vested interest in my happiness (hahaha weird sentence - deal with it).  He referenced the fact that last year, we didn't have any major problems are incidences leading up to the conference and during the conference.

I would like to think that the conference has inspired many people to get more involved with AIESEC and that it was a good conference experience for all delegates, including those on their way out of the organization, but I would never know for sure.

Yes, there will always be regrets over different situations, of wishing something else had been done, but in the big scheme of things, it doesn't really matter.  It was an amazing conference, and will be an experience that I will forever remember and learn from.

Yay for personal growth!