The umbilical cord...
Once upon a time I was part of a non-profit organization that was dying to get new members... or else! We were supposed to run a structured induction process for these people who would come pouring in. Well, we turned on the recruitment tap and what happened? Nothing! There was just a small dribble of interested people who wanted to know more about our tiny but energetic organization. One of them, later, became one of my few best friends.
My first memory of Pike is at the corridor of our university. She was just minding her own business next to our bulletin board and I rushed in to ask whether she's coming to our cottage weekend. She said yes. That was an important yes. After that yes we've experienced so much together. She became the local committee president after me in this particular organization, then we became team mates and flat mates and now she's in her traineeship in India - "wasting her time" every day.
Let's slow down and look at each of these steps one by one:
First dip in the pool of shit
Excuse my harsh way of expression, but that's what leadership sometimes is, at its very best! It can be a series of huge disappointments, personal level arguments, heated discussions, nights of lost sleep, immense stress and all that. Of couse she knew this but didn't really think of it before she heard the words "The new local committee president is... Pirjo Rinnepelto!". Poor girl just thought of applying to some team and handling her part. Now her part became to be the leader. She broke into tears.
After initial shock, she started the active learning period. It's admirable how she treated the new position: she wanted to know everything, she wanted to be the best, she wanted to succeed!
Then I left her alone for a few weeks and escaped to Italy and Estonia, but it wasn't sure if I would be coming back any time soon. I took those drastic measures because I wanted to prove my point that she needs to step into the leader's shoes. She still hates me for that! :)
But there she was, trying to lead the most diverse team of different individuals. And she did pretty damn well! Of course it was intense, of course there was a lot of tension and of course it wasn't easy, but she managed to elevate the organization to the next level. Exactly what needed to happen!
Before long, it was time for her to go to a real leadership conference abroad. I knew she would be super-motivated when coming back, and I instilled a thought on her: How about you and me applying to the national leadership team together, to even more challenging post. She didn't really have time to respond before she went for the conference, so the poor girl had to play with the idea for the whole week or more she was there. How nice of me. She still hates me for that. :)
Becoming who she really is
Although it was her plan to continue studies after the long year in the leadership of AIESEC Saimaa, somehow she ended up submiting her application, gaining immense confidence along the process and smiling her way through to the national leadership body. Luckily, I had an honour to join her (and three others). I wasn't so sure of my own chances to get selected, but I was damn sure for her!
There we were, packing the van full of stuff and heading to Helsinki on 1st of May 2005. Once we started getting our knowledge transition, the last team said that the umbilical cord between Tomi and Pike has to be cut. We tried and didn't seek that much comfort from each other's advice, but I think part of the cord still remains.
Our next 13 months were hard core leadership development during the day and charging the batteries in Kantsu in the evening. The year was full of fun, proximity, deep thoughts, dirty dishes, too much beer, too many nights waking up from Mirje's floor after the night in Hevimesta, good discussions in Krouvi, screams and slaps at the office, relaxing cigarette breaks but most importantly: even strengthening friendship!
Hyd
Now we are both having our internships: me in Sri Lanka, she in India. For what I've heard she has pretty much settled her future vision. She is going to be a major help for many people and the whole planet. Of course, with a little help from other people. Cos' she's definitely a people person, not a technology person that the university tried to make out of her. If she can combine those two aspects, she will go far. And at the moment she's practicing something like that. The best thing is that she's coming to visit me in a few weeks! I've been already working a bit extra so I can take a few days off and catch up with her. It's good to have people in your life who just make your heart sing of joy and when you know you're going to meet them you are counting days to be there with them.
Pike, welcome to Sri Lanka!
posted by Tomi Astikainen @ Tuesday, October 10, 2006
7 Comments:
Hey!
Oh, you guys will have so much fun when Pike comes to Sri Lanka :) Wish I was there!
Warm hugs to both of you,
Annika
I have to say that both of you, Saimaa dude and dudette, have helped me in my experience in this particular organization. First Tomi was a huge source of inspiration, and supported me to experience this what I'm currently do, and then Pike was here to help me actually to start the whole experience, and supported and thaught me all interesting tasks...
Thank you for both of you, or should I say that really big eveything for both of you...
-Jani
Damn you both! Grr...
Haha!
Enjoy you guys! :)
Sometimes I feel this blog is nothing but a big-ass commentary by the one big happy family Team Possiblego. :) Anyways, thanks Jani for you nice words and Annika for the hugs! And thanks E for your damnation.
I just thought I'd copypaste what Pike sent me. It's Pike-weirdly funny:
Hupsun blogin kirjoitit (mistä helkutista sie kaivoit sen rekka-
tai whatafuck-kauhakuormaaja-piken!! Kaikkea kanssa!)… en tietenkään
muista tunnareita enää siihen bloggeriin… Eniveis, miun pointti tässä
on, että olethan sie tosiaan miulle monta syytä antanu siuta vihata,
mikä on onni. Sillä miehän niin kovasti rakastan siuta vihata –oli
siulla sitten ötökkä nenässä tahi ei (ehkä himpun verran vähemmän
ötökällä kuin ilman, mutta ei merkittävästi).
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