Challenge the Unchallenged

I've just sat through a mind blowing session given by Jose Andres Sotto, an individual who has worked extensively in the United Nations, is a Doctor in psychology, consultant to the Philippine government on crisis intervention, a graduate professor, and a man with an incredible love for AIESEC. This speaker embodied wha every external should and well beyond. With a relationship with the organization that's lasted over 10 years, he knew our goals, understood our mission. He's spoken at past ICs and IPMs, and even threw around our accronyms with ease. His skills with communicating, engaging and continuously reading his audience and the inspiration, passion, and energy he spread throughout the entire room was incredibly empowering. There are now three of us typing ferociously at computers in attempts to capture the knowledge and insight gained in the past hours.

"God is Dead"
The words were plastered on the powerpoint. Just three bold words, and silence. We are left to contemplate the idea, let it simmer. Soak in the feeling and energy those words bring us. Sotto then opens the Nietzche challenging an entire continent's worldview and being a catalyst to the post-modernist mentality. As I sat and listened to Sotto lay out a picture of our post-modernist mentality and prevelant youth trends throughout the world, I wondered how he would tie it all back to the key topic of development. We are subjective individuals. We question the world and cringe from the idea of absolute Truths. We are skeptical. We are narrative. Through our stories and experiences, we bring others into our different worlds. We like our relationships without costs, yet we value community. In our worldview, things are simply not quantifiable. We identify with all these qualities, although perhaps we haven't articulated all of them.

relationships without costs . That blew my mind. It embodies a huge concept that I identify with, yet never articulated, in three simple words.

Deconstruction
Sotto simply refused to jump into the topic of education and development. Why? He wanted to lay a foundation of critical thought. We need to be aware that every viewpoint in that room is seeing things from a different worldview and position in society. We can all read the same exact book, and we would all interpret it differently based on our worldviews, opinions, cultures, organizational affiliations, etc. We need to harness the process of deconstructing opinions, beliefs, opposing opinions, strategies, and institutions. Only then can we address huge issues such as development and education.

"AIESEC Is Dead"

Again the words were plastered on the wall, Bold and offensive. We uncomfortably sat and stared at these words and let the tension build within the room. Let those words sink in. Only when AIESECERs sieze to ask questions, engage in critical thought, and challenge the unchallenged will the organization be dead. By willingly handing over our opinions, conforming to the ideas and institutions surrounding us, and complacently following strategies, believes, or the opinions of others without seeking to understand and challenge those ideologies, we willingly surrender the ability to become the leaders and change agents that AIESEC is meant to build. The single most important quality within this organization is that very ability to question and requestion. Form opinions and challenge them.The moment when we stop questioning, being skeptical, and challenging viewpoints and institutions that surround us, both outside our organization and within, is the moment AIESEC Is Dead.