Communications technology plays a big role in our lives today, and will continue to do so in the future. But How? And to what end? In the 3rd of 4 part series, we reconnect with AiduFellow Rozanne Ocampo from our June blog post to stay abreast technology tools without losing sight of one complementary educative tool – arguably more powerfully relevant and irreplaceable for shaping tomorrow’s leaders than most communication technologies today: Networking.

Aiducation: Rozanne, you participated in the 2013 Temasek Foundation Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking Programme: what leadership skills did you develop during the exchange Program?

Rozanne: More than any specific leadership skill, I learned how to be a leader of myself. During those five to six months, I had to be responsible for my own self. I had to know my goals and my purpose why I was there and more importantly, to keep the goals and purpose I have set for myself. There was no other person than myself to remind me of the important things I have to look through and accomplish. I had all my time and money under my control that it was easy to just indulge myself with no care about tomorrow. Under such circumstances, I developed a whole new sense of responsibility and focus. Being surrounded with different kinds of amazing people with different principles, background, and goals, I came to understand myself better and I learned how to be honest with myself. I learned how to manage my expectations and frame things properly so that they produce the better effect on me. The leadership camp that we attended as part of the program also taught me the importance of critically forming my own opinion and ideas and learning how to voice them out properly.

Aiducation: Which 2 inspiring persons did you meet and why have you remained in touch with since then?

I met a lot of amazing and brilliant people when I joined the said program but there were 2 persons who really had an impact on me. One is the person who I grew closest to during the program. She is also a Filipino but she and her family is living in Brunei. I don’t know how it happened but we just clicked with each other and we started spending most of our time together. What I find amazing about her is how she can click with virtually anyone. I was inspired with the way she treats people and how she can easily make the people around her feel comfortable with her. Her bubbly, caring, and genuine personality just shines through. It makes people want to open up and share to her. Being an introvert, I was inspired by her openness to new people and new ideas and her courage to dig deeper into these unfamiliar territories. She knew herself well and she didn’t allow herself to be intimidated by others, instead she kept herself open. She inspired me to be more confident of my genuine self and to be more welcoming to both myself and to others. Even after the program, we continued to update each other about each other’s lives every now and then. For me she is a living reminder of how beautiful “genuine and true” is.

The other person that greatly inspired me is also a co-participant in the program. She exudes confidence where ever she goes. She inspired me to be more accepting and confident of myself inside so that it will show outside. She knows what she is standing for, she knows what she wants, and her self-presence shows in the way she carries herself in front of others. She inspired me to be more assertive to my inner self. We haven’t really gotten in touch with each other since the program started but I am always updated of her latest endeavors through Facebook and Instagram.

Aiducation: You have recently graduated: Congratulations! What is your advice to future 1st year students?

Rozanne: My advice to incoming 1st year students is to always be open and to keep on learning. Learning is not limited to the courses that you will take in college. We do not just learn inside the classroom, nor just from our professors. There is much to explore and learn outside the exams, the courses, the classrooms, and most especially outside ourselves. So it is very important to keep your eyes open but it is also as important to keep your minds critical of what you will take in. Enter college not just for the course and the job after, but more importantly for the experience and development.

Aiducation: What are your hopes for the future after graduation?

Rozanne: I hope to build a meaningful career in the telecommunications industry and to be part of something bigger than my own self and my own family. I hope for a brighter future for my family where we can live comfortably and make our love and care for each other overflow to others.

Aiducation: Thank you for sharing your insights with us, Rozanne.

At Aiducation, we understand the lasting impact of extra-curricular education on holistic leadership development. Join Aiducation at our two next networking events in Basel and in Zurich to explore how we together can build nations one AiduFellow at a time.

By Mirembe Izagiire