Alar´s story as the Market Expansion TL

I had been in AIESEC for 2 months involved in sales team, selling traineeships to companies, making sales calls and going to sales meeting. It was all new to me and lot to learn but I found myself thinking of something more than being just a team member. As AIESEC aims to develop future leaders I felt that I wasn't getting this leadership experience and also I felt that I needed a bigger challenge.

Then LC opened leadership positions for the next term and I decided to apply. I started filling in the application. The decision was quite easy for me but with this decision came many mixed feelings: fear, doubts, excitement.

Looking back now I see that these feelings were really normal as any new challenge that one decides to face. Looking back now I feel fortunate that I had this opportunity and I had courage and will to apply. And fortunately I was elected for the position I applied.

The year as a team leader has definitely made me into a better person than I was before and I have learned a lot about leadership, value of team and team work. I have learned to always stretch myself and try to think out of box and big. I have learned to never give up - the moment you give up the environment around you will lose yourself in that decision. There are always things to improve, people to talk to, solutions to be created and judgments to be faced and mindsets to be changed. Also being responsible for not only myself has though me a lot about my own motivation. And finally I have learned to have fun and take the journey and the challenges you face with a bit of humor, things are never as serious as they look and you are rarely to find the best solutions when you are stressed, frustrated and depressed.

During a year there have been many failures and many successes. But the most positive thing during the year I will remember is people I have met. AIESEC has amazing, passionate and smart people and everyone has their one story. One chapter in my story is now ending and the next one is starting soon. I feel now that because of this decision I made a year ago I am now ready to face even bigger challenges.