Melissa's Stories

Melissa Mbugua

Local Committee: AIESEC Strathmore

Local Committee President 2008/2009

LESSONS FROM MY EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE

Why should you go on exchange? It is one of those much-sung-about parts of the AIESEC experience, on which the performance of the organization is based. I had been an active AIESECer for four years before I finally got my chance to do exchange. I always knew that I would go. I also knew that it would be a life-changing experience.

Nothing could have prepared me for the amazing experience I had. Even after having traveled and met so many people from different cultures, I was still pleasantly wow-ed by the amount of information I learnt while abroad ( I was in Poland). There is something very profound about being in a different culture (no matter which culture it is) by yourself. Only then do you really ask yourself questions about what you believe and who you are. There, you have the opportunity to let your true self emerge. In order to be a high-level individual, you must have high self-knowledge. You cannot really conquer the world before you conquer yourself. Exchange gives you the rare opportunity to do just that- conquer yourself.

Now that I am back home, I know who I am and can feel the difference in how I do my work and interact with people around me. I know that I am blessed to have had that opportunity, and I urge everyone in AIESEC to take it. If you are sceptical about the ’miracle results’ which I am preaching about, then go for exchange yourself. There is no money-back guarantee, but at least you will know the truth for sure!