AIESEC Leadership Development Qualities.

Kimotho can’t remember the last time he strived for excellence and any positive impact he has created. It's been close to a year, he says. As he tries to account for his time, this year has been a rollercoaster; he is not self-aware. The look on his face says it all, frustration; maybe he is dissatisfied, perhaps he is unsure of what he feels about it all, but the truth is he is not happy about it. Damn, this is where I say if I had powers, then I would wish to have the ability to read minds, to know what is going on in Kimotho’s head. Sadly, I’ll have to keep guessing; however, I am an excellent guesser…I got this.

Posing the question, “How has your year been?” really trickled him into a world of thoughts, awakening his thoughts. Seated upright, hands on the chin and trying to think about how to help a friend, I let him ponder his thoughts, but the curiosity within me would not let me be. I wondered why such a simple question would be such a great deal to him. It’s Kimotho, the alpha in our friend’s group, the plug to our connections, the ‘mtu wa mafom’; if anything, he was always the guy who knows the guy who is the guy if you can’t gerrit….haha.

‘Man, chill…kwani, what's up?’ I ask, this time with a bit of concern. What could be so severe that would make him seem so frustrated? Kimotho pulls his chair, clears his throat and starts explaining how he has been feeling out of his authentic self lately. It has been the least productive he has ever been in a very long time. He regrets his choices and how he has spent his time.

I swear this feels so new, especially when we are not used to having serious conversations with him; all our conversations tread lightly, but look at us having a rather serious conversation. My career has just begun. He seems to have his options run dry and can't account for what is going on in his life now. He pauses, then says, “I need to get myself back on track, mate; I really do.” And he turns to look at me.

“Have you considered joining AIESEC?” Look at me being solution oriented. His face lights up with curiosity, and so I ask again.

“Have you considered joining AIESEC?”

I explain what AIESEC does and how AIESEC has made me more productive while cultivating: my self-awareness, my ability to empower others, becoming solution-oriented, and becoming a world citizen, qualities which have helped me better lead myself and those around me.

Fast forward, Kimotho is now a very active AIESECer, and from his mood lately, he enjoys it…a great deal. Do you know the feeling when the student becomes a teacher? It is such a good feeling.

So hey, Have you joined AIESEC? Maybe that’s all you need, mate!