Jen Simpson – Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)
Through volunteering internationally and working with AIESEC (a global not for profit organisation entirely run by students), I have defined how I want to use my degree and developed the communication and leadership skills I need to get a head start in my career.
I started working for AIESEC at a local level in 2007, in a volunteer role that gave me the opportunity to engage professionally with a variety of businesses. This is a rare opportunity for a University student and I found the experience extremely valuable. In 2008 I was elected into a leadership position and became the State Manager of AIESEC South Australia.
In 2009 I made the decision to defer University. I wanted to go on an international exchange program, which would allow me to work out what my future direction was. I knew that I was interested in working in the context of education and that I was especially interested in education of children or women. I took the opportunity to go to Malaysia for 3 months and work at an orphanage called Agathians Shelter. The orphanage houses 30 boys from 3-18 years old. Most of them go to school but five of the children do not have birth certificates so they cannot enrol in a school. I worked intensively with these five students in the morning and then in the afternoon I worked with all of the children on homework and other learning activities.
My experience in Malaysia taught me many things. I found it especially rewarding to see kids who couldn’t read at all when I got there, starting to read their first books.
After returning from Malaysia I relocated to Sydney to undertake a one year position as Executive Director and Vice President of Marketing for AIESEC Australia. Having the opportunity to be the director of a company at 21 years old was a unique learning curve both personally and professionally. Most jobs only enable a gradual development experience, whereas I had the challenge of achieving a great deal in a short time frame.
During my experience with AIESEC and while volunteering I had time to reflect about where I want my degree to take me. My firsthand experience of the sometimes difficult relationships between private companies, not for profit organisations and the government sector in many different cultures influenced this greatly. I believe that there is a huge opportunity for improvement in the way the sectors relate to each other. I see a role for me in the future as a liaison within one sector, working with the other sectors to ensure value for everyone involved.
The number one thing I have learnt so far is that your life doesn’t start when you graduate from University. With this in mind, it is important to study something that you are interested in and use your time at University to work out what you are passionate about. Then, develop the skills and networks that you need to get where you want to go.
