Against the grain

Eight months ago, a lot of new things were thrown at me. New people, new surroundings, new ideas, new room mate, new friends, new new new... and I was taking my time -taking it all in. When you are new at something that has been happening for a while, it's easy to fall into a groove. "I'm new here, this is how it works, this is how things happen, this is how it's done." I could apply that to a lot of new things- for instance a new job.... you observe how things operate, and do your best to match what's being done and add your own personality to it when you can. A new social scene... you see what people do for fun and you can either go along with it- or if that's not your thing..you find something else.

A very important person to me instilled something critical in my brain 8 months ago. The importance of questioning. This mentality of "I'm new, this is how it works" is crap with what I've been committing a good chunk of my time to this past year. The importance of taking something, if it's small, big, a system, an activity, a mentalility...and asking YOURSELF... do I believe in that? Do I believe that is what I want to be a part of? Do I think that is the most efficient way of doing it? Is there a better way? Why is it happening that way now? Is there a reason? Who made these decisions..and what is their thinking behind it? What is their opinion? What is MY opinion?

Without a world of questioning... What would we have? No revolutions? No innovation?

monotony.

I don't wear the same color everyday. I don't let people think for me. I don't let people speak for me. When I have an idea- I say it. When other's have ideas- I listen. I surround myself with people who do the same.

Free voice and expression of ideas are as necessary for AIESEC as oxygen is for our existence.

When people are told to Think twice about expressing their opinions..

something is wrong.