I can’t remember how I first heard about JCI, but when I did, I knew it was an organisation I wanted to join as someone who was looking to network more with people and improve my communication and leadership skills.
One thing I noticed in my first few months was that you won’t improve or grow if you don’t actively get involved or get interested in learning. I also found it interesting how parliamentary procedures were carried out, as they seemed very strange yet interesting at the time.
A year later, I was appointed the Director of Content & Publicity, and although I knew it was going to come with a lot of workload, I wasn’t prepared for how overwhelming the role would eventually become.
As the lead brand designer, one thing I’m personally proud of is the level and standard of design I’ve been able to bring to the organisation, particularly in comparison with the previous years.
However, several challenges come with this role; the most difficult one for me so far has been adapting to the bureaucratic system and handling criticism, as there have been several instances where some of the work I considered to be very solid was repeatedly rejected and eventually replaced by others that, in my view, did not meet the same standard.
Also, balancing JCI with my academics as a 300L pharmacy student has been a bit difficult. There have been periods where my responsibilities as a director competed with my academics; this has made me learn that it’s impossible to give your 100% to several things at once.
However, knowing what to prioritise at a particular time, delegating responsibilities, and proper communication have helped me juggle these two.
Overall, joining JCI has been an interesting experience so far; it has exposed me to a wider network of people, improved my communication, and generally made me a more responsible person.