Wow!! First blog entry!! And what a topic too!! Much cool!! Such awesome!!
I've actually quit blogging for about 5 years now but my recent experience in the GSY ASEAN 2015 was so inspiring and amazing that I just really needed to share it!! And maybe continue on my blogging habits perhaps. Well, that and the fact that I did mentioned in my application that I would do everything in my power to share my incredible experience, and since I'm so awesome and am indeed a man woman lady of my words, I would do just that!! So ignore the poor temporary blog layout and fasten your seat belts oh-so-wonderful-readers-of-mine for you are going on an epic personal experience recount of the GSY ASEAN 2015!!
A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE PROGRAM...
The question that almost everyone I begin to talk to at the GSY ASEAN was "How did you find out about this program?" Of course there were other typical or should I say "standard" "What's your name?" and "Where are you from?" questions. I think I better quit rambling too much and just say that I got to know about it through *epic drum-roll!!* FACEBOOK!! Typical ain't it?? Aaahhh... the great powers of social media nowadays...
So yea, I saw this interesting post someone shared on my newsfeed —I would've given credit to the one who shared it but I forgot who it was, sorry!!— one lazy afternoon and decided to check it out. Being a fresh grad without a real job (YET!!) and the fact that the program did kinda piqued my interest —I mean come on, free flight, free food, free lodging, so why not? LOL!, I decided to fill in the application form and give it a go. It was almost the closing date when I stumbled upon this so I wrecked my slightly-rusted-mushroom-infested-unused-since-graduating-brain in filling the application. Truth be told, I almost gave up halfway through because there was a limit of 80 words per question and I was really getting frustrated in trying to meet the word count and sharing my experiences at the same time. Hey, what can I say? I'm an aspired writer after all. But I guess the stubborn side of me persevered since I managed to cramp and tighten up every answer and was finally able to send it in ONE day before the deadline.
I didn't know when the results were going to be announced or how they were going announce it so there was nothing I could do but WAIT for it. Saturday came and there was still no news whatsoever on the results but after spending an entire day outside, I came home to find that a good friend of mine, Wanji, got accepted to attend the program while I was scrolling down my Facebook newsfeed. With my heart in my throat, I checked my email and to my disappointment, there was no email that indicated I was chosen. Feeling slightly unsatisfied, I decided to check the Spam Mail folder and there was where I found an email saying that I was chosen to attend the program!! My face fell when the email informed me that I was to reply by 2PM on Saturday and it was already close to 7PM when I read the email!! I called up Wanji, depicting what had happened and she said to just continue on with the confirmation and send them an apology email to clear things up. I quickly filled and sent in the confirmation form and a hastily (but still good) apology email but I still felt insecure, so I dug up a phone number —from god knows where!— and quickly made a phone call to explain my delay in confirming my attendance. Thank god someone actually picked up after a few rings —it was after 7 on a Saturday and I was afraid there would be no one around!— and after a rushed explanation and many apologies later, the person at the end of the line assured me that everything was fine and that I was IN!! I think I gave her quite a scare by my panicked-hence-rather-unintelligent-rambling-sort-of-explanation and endless blitz of streaming apologies. LOL! Needless to say, I was all smiles the entire day night after that! :)
The following next few days were filled with packing answering calls and replying emails from the organizers on plane ticket bookings and stalking the GSY ASEAN Facebook Page and the-new-to-me Slack app for more information on what bring and what to wear during the program. They never tell us anything, like seriously! They finally released the Info Pack where we were informed on what to expect and what to bring there. It was a casual event, WOOOHOOOO!! Yes, I have a certain dislike for formal events. I finally got my flight e-tickets and began packing less than 24 hours before I was to fly down to Kuala Lumpur from Penang. Don't judge my last minuteness!! I was rather worried as I did not receive my flight ticket until 6PM and I was supposed to fly the next day!! I thought I was forgotten and was not going!!
All packed and ready to startup!!
So on the 18th March, at 1405 hours, I was on board an AirAsia flight bound for KL!! Met a fellow Penangite named Elaine through the Slack chat before the departure so, we both ended up traveling together and had fun guessing if any of the passengers on our flight was a GSY participant. LOL! We arrived at KLIA2 and took a long walk down to the arrival hall where the GSY welcoming team was waiting —still playing the guessing game as we walked— and that was where we found out one of our guesses was correct!! Met up with 2 other Penang guys and 3 participants from the Philippines. We then took a van all the way to The Zon Hotel which was situated the heart of KL—you could actually get a really nice view of KLCC from the hotel!! We then checked in the hotel and found out we are roomies!! Yaaaaaaayyyy!!
We then headed out to KLCC for dinner with a bunch of other awesome GSY participants thanks to the Slack chat app!! There were a lot of conversations and ideas flowing at the dinner table even BEFORE the program had officially started!!
After dinner and a lot of laughter, we headed back to the hotel and lounged in the lobby where we talked some more. Eventually, there was a shuffle of conversationalists as some retreated to their rooms and others took their place. Listening to so many different tales, experiences and life achievements from people who are much younger than me made me feel a little intimidated and awed at the same time—like I'm going to turn 24 later this year and I'm still sitting around, wasting my life away!!
I somehow got a feeling that GSY actually booked the entire hotel hahahaha!!
We then headed out to KLCC for dinner with a bunch of other awesome GSY participants thanks to the Slack chat app!! There were a lot of conversations and ideas flowing at the dinner table even BEFORE the program had officially started!!
Dinner cum ice-breaking session at KLCC food court!! New friends weeeee!!
One more we-fie before heading back to the hotel!!
KLCC in its full splendor from where we were taking we-fies!!
We finally decided to retreat to our respective rooms at about 1.30am and I got to meet the rest of the occupants to my suite unit then. After some exchange of pleasantries, we began to talk once more. To make things short, I slept at approximately 4am that night.
Final occupant count to suite 1101: 4 very crazy girls by the names of Janice, Elaine, Kim and Su Yi.
Final occupant count to suite 1101: 4 very crazy girls by the names of Janice, Elaine, Kim and Su Yi.
From strangers to roomies!! Love these girls to bits!! I miss you guys already!!
It's too quiet now without you people X)
DAY 1 (19/3/2015)
I woke up to the blaring of the alarm clock. I was lucky that my phone was across the room where I left it charging the night before earlier that morning or I would've flung my phone across the room snoozed it right there and then! I'll skip the part where I had to drag myself up and the effort needed to get the other 3 people who slept less than 3 hours that night to get their asses off the bed. So fast forward, we went down for a buffet breakfast. The spread consists of typical Malaysian breakfast items like nasi lemak, an array of side dishes and vegetables, toasts, cereals, eggs, fruits, pastries, coffee, tea, juices... well, you get the idea. We literally had breakfast by the pool which was nice—if you minus the part where it was hot and humid. But, we were in Malaysia after all and we can't always win everything right?
Breakfast by the pool... Really does feel as though I'm on some exotic vacation LOL!
After breakfast, it was time to get our dog name tags and head to the KLCC Convention Center where the programs of the next 3 days will be held.
Nice lanyard eh?? :)
To be honest, I was really hot and bothered by the time we reached the place due to the long walk and the many places where security impeded our entry. So we entered the hall and lo and behold...
A room filled with beanie bags!! And beanie boxes too!!
There were inspiring talks and then we were broken into groups —Group5 for me!— for a Rapid Fire Ice-Breaking session where we break the ice —duh— and probe on world problems and ways to solve them. It was really interesting to listen to so many different point of views and methods of solving problems. I told some people about a concept my team once used in a social initiative proposal to alleviate poverty in India back when I was doing my degree —special thanks to Philippe!— which involves a combination micro-loans and crowd funding. It was really uplifting to hear people giving constructive suggestions to better the idea and asking probing questions to problems and loopholes that I did not foresee. Some of you that I've talked to might remember the story about a cow, a fish and an open basket :)
After lunch, it was time to pitch!! Initially, I didn't plan to pitch at all but I was urged to do so by my peers who think that the idea was brilliant and with some encouragement from energetic mentors, I pitched my idea. The reason I didn't want to pitch at first was because I felt that it was impossible to pitch my idea in 1 minute due to the complexity of the concept. My pitch didn't go too well —by my standards— and I thought I failed to make people understand what I was trying to tell them. I did not have high hopes in getting voted to the next round, not because I felt that my pitching was bad, but because I was not really into my idea anymore due to its complicated finance nature and I was more interested in aiding other teams in building up their ideas.
Things took an unexpected turn when I got a lot of support for my idea where people actually suggested some improvements to it and some even offered help if I ever needed it but of course there were some who had doubts and were a little skeptical about it. Out of the 17 —I think, I can't really remember the actual number— pitches, my pitch actually got voted into the top-12 pitches in my group! At that time, I had mixed feelings on whether or not I should continue to pursue my idea. In the end, with support from a new friend from Vietnam who I just met, I decided to just go with it and draft my idea out on a piece of paper to be shown to the rest of the participants outside my group.
Still feeling uncertain about my idea —actually it was more like I didn't want to do it instead of I can't do it—, my draft was left unattended while other teams were pitching enthusiastically for votes from their peers. I only pitched my idea to ONE person because he was so into my idea and he asked a lot of questions about it —he ended up being the brainchild of my evolved idea a few hours later. I only had 3 votes on my idea and to make sure I didn't get any more, I rolled up my draft and carried it wherever I went. I was a total idiot wasn't I? The few people who knew about it were puzzled but at that moment, I honestly really didn't want to pursue it anymore! We were then asked to put our drafts outside the hall for evaluation and I contemplated to not do it and bring it with me into the hall for safety measures. I know I only had 3 votes but I needed to be sure! I eventually changed my mind when Richard —a friend from Indonesia— insisted that I put it outside.
Me & Oanh, my new Vietnam friend who has been a really great supporter to me
(even if we started out as "the people who only want to have fun" LOL!)
I hope to visit you in Vietnam soon my dear friend!!
Still feeling uncertain about my idea —actually it was more like I didn't want to do it instead of I can't do it—, my draft was left unattended while other teams were pitching enthusiastically for votes from their peers. I only pitched my idea to ONE person because he was so into my idea and he asked a lot of questions about it —he ended up being the brainchild of my evolved idea a few hours later. I only had 3 votes on my idea and to make sure I didn't get any more, I rolled up my draft and carried it wherever I went. I was a total idiot wasn't I? The few people who knew about it were puzzled but at that moment, I honestly really didn't want to pursue it anymore! We were then asked to put our drafts outside the hall for evaluation and I contemplated to not do it and bring it with me into the hall for safety measures. I know I only had 3 votes but I needed to be sure! I eventually changed my mind when Richard —a friend from Indonesia— insisted that I put it outside.
Me & Richard, a dear guy from Indonesia who has inspired me to no end
with his tales and experience in his mural business.
What are the odds that 3 votes would get me into the next round? Well, I tell you what, it was ENOUGH to put me through the top-50!! I was truly dumbfound when I saw my miserable draft in the hands of a mentor when the results were announced. I even told myself, "Nope it was mistake, they'll soon realize it" but that didn't happen and I was stuck with my idea for the next 24 hours—is this some twisted destiny or what? I was at wit's end because I didn't even had a group at that point!! Well, minus Oanh who had stood by me from the very beginning. However, by the end of the day, I was joined by Adryan from Indonesia —the ONLY person who I pitched to earlier— and Sara who was from KL which had me a team of 4. It was thanks to Adryan that I actually pulled myself together and stop lamenting on why should I even put in effort do this in the first place. He made things really clear during our discussion and we began pivoting, improving and simplifying the idea in order to pitch it in 3 minutes the next day. We then separated for dinner and promised to meet up later that night to finish discussing the concept.
Me, Sara and Oanh decided to go get takeaway in KLCC before heading back to the hotel because we were really exhausted from the long day and we had a team meeting in about an hour. But before we were able to get takeout, we stumbled upon another group of GSY participants who were heading to dinner as well. They invited us to join them at Madam Kwan's and after a few moments of persuasion, we relented and went with them. And I shall NEVER regret the decision I made that night! The decision in accepting the dinner invitation earned me some pretty good advice from Joe —a mentor— and it was through dinner that I met my next and final team member, Eibhlin, who is just so awesome!! Heck even I couldn't beat her in a battle-of-awesomeness!
Dinner with a bunch of awesome people at Madam Kwan's!!
Thanks Joe for inviting us along for dinner!!
Final team count: ONE very-lost-team-founder who so happens to have a degree in M&M, ONE genius financier and successful businessman, ONE really awesome and experienced pitcher with epic journalism skills, ONE highly supportive PR specialist and ONE super bubbly and sassy soon-to-be engineer.
After claiming our t-shirts for the next day and a quick shower, we met up and discussed more on our pitch and pivoted a little bit more. It was really difficult to pitch our entire idea in only 3 minutes so we tried different approaches and tried to tighten up on our content. We met up with mentors Heislyc and Joe at about 1am and Adryan tried pitching our idea during the meet. We got a lot of constructive feedback and suggestions from Heislyc to help us better our pitch. Casual conversation flowed for a little while after that before we decided to retreat to our rooms to rest while the mentors went out for drinks—yes, we were not invited! LOL! My apologies if I may seem a little unresponsive then because I had a lot on my mind and I was really tired.
The Bread & Brick Team!!
The name is actually derived from bread&butter and brick&mortar. Genius right?
After claiming our t-shirts for the next day and a quick shower, we met up and discussed more on our pitch and pivoted a little bit more. It was really difficult to pitch our entire idea in only 3 minutes so we tried different approaches and tried to tighten up on our content. We met up with mentors Heislyc and Joe at about 1am and Adryan tried pitching our idea during the meet. We got a lot of constructive feedback and suggestions from Heislyc to help us better our pitch. Casual conversation flowed for a little while after that before we decided to retreat to our rooms to rest while the mentors went out for drinks—yes, we were not invited! LOL! My apologies if I may seem a little unresponsive then because I had a lot on my mind and I was really tired.
One of our many initial pitching drafts...
Stumbled upon Kim and Willy of Team Aqua Station when I opened the door to suite 1101 and ended up chatting with them. It was past 2am when I finally dropped myself into the oh-so-fluffy-heavenly bed.
DAY 2 (20/3/2015)
Had the same problem getting my 3 roomies up and out of bed for breakfast. We eventually went for breakfast and then took the walk towards the KLCC Convention Center where we split up to be with our respective teams. Discussion went on once I found my team in the sea of people in black—it was hard enough when everyone was wearing different clothes but it was hell when everyone was wearing the same shirt and I just walked pass my team without noticing! We had to do some changes to the pitch, taking into account the advice and feedback from the mentors the night before. Then we got to meet our team mentor, Piyush who's from India. He was really helpful and provided us invaluable inputs which we used in our pitch later on. Our 'meeting' continued on past lunch time—yes, we actually had lunch while conversing,we are busy people!! Too bad we didn't have the opportunity to pitch to him. We later found out the criteria that was really needed in out pitch and that resulted in another change in pitching approach. Everything happened in a flash and before we knew it, it was time to pitch!
Bread & Brick with our awesome mentor, Piyush!!
I
So we were joking about us being legit loan sharkers and that our company logo would be a shark with money in its jaws hahahaha and this is what I envisioned
Feeling relieved after a long tedious day, we took a bunch of pictures and decided to leave for dinner. It started out with nearly 15 people wanting to go for dinner but we got separated after that. The ones I was with decided to go for Chilli's but we were informed that it would be an hour's wait with it being crowded and a Friday night and all. We ended up adjourning to Johnny Rockets in Avenue K. Yes it took a very long walk to get there and I kept asking if we were there yet. They had delicious burgers and great milkshakes at Johnny Rockets and it was like an after-pitch party where everyone loosen up and enjoyed each other's company, well apart from the food of course! There was even some entertainment provided there where the staffs actually danced right in the middle of the restaurant!! Great food, awesome company, energetic entertainment... can the night get any better?
After dinner we separated, some went back to the hotel while me and a few others were meeting up with another group of friends. I was supposed to meet Kim and the rest so I walked all the way back to KLCC to meet them, only to be told that we were walking back to Avenue K because they decided to patronage The Library Coffee Bar, which was right beside Johnny Rockets!! I was like "Daaaammmnnn... I just walked all the way here and now we're going back there!!" We had some drinks and talked, it was nice to get to know a couple of new people there. I wanted to leave later on but in the end I agreed to adjourn to Feugo, a restaurant cum bar which was located at the 23rd floor of the building next to The Zon Hotel that offered a breathtaking view of the KLCC and an open air platform where we had our drinks.
The night went on with a lot of conversations going around. It was really interesting to hear stories from different people while sharing jokes and laughter the entire night. We left when the bar was about to close and went back to the hotel. Then another chit-chatting session was in motion in suite 1101, where we had girl talks involving facial management and something about guys being rocks and whatnot the entire night all the way to 6.20 am (I remembered it because that was when the morning call came in). We —me and Kim were the only survivors then— were deciding whether to go down for breakfast or take a short nap to freshen up. We decided on the latter but it was kinda of a bad idea because I woke up feeling even more tired than ever!
DAY 3 (21/3/2015)
Dragged ourselves down to breakfast after getting the rest of the girls up and packing up our luggage. Then it was back to the KLCC Convention Center where the results for the top-18 teams were to be announced. We arrived a little late and the results were already announced. My team didn't make it but it's okay, we did our best after all and there were no regrets! Then it was down to the Planery Hall where we witnessed a dialogue between great and inspiring entrepreneurs. By then the act of not sleeping the night before was beginning to affect me and well, I kinda took a couple of shut eye throughout the event. LOL!
I later called my team together after lunch to discuss the probability of us succeeding with our project on our own. All 5 of us agreed that it was possible and we all agreed that we wanted this!! We wanted this!! We are shouldering on on our own and I couldn't ask any more out of my team. We're sticking together through thick and thin to see our project through and hopefully make a change in people's lives. We started to discuss and make plans for the next few weeks to come. We were so into our discussions that many mentors thought that we were actually going to pitch later on. But sadly no, we're not so we're truly on our own in this next phase but I do believe with the expertise and skills that we have individually, our concept could be made real. I guess we'll just see if it does come true :)
I left the Convention Center at approximately 5.30pm to catch the van that was arranged to take me to the airport at 6pm for my 9.55pm flight later that night—special thanks to Eibhlin's aunt who gave me a lift! I was really sad to have to leave so soon. I met up with my fellow Penangites who were on the same flight back in the hotel and we left for the airport. I had another really uplifting conversation with a fellow INTIan named Alex while waiting for our departure. We shared our experience and insights on the program and he was really supportive on the idea that my team has decided to accelerate on our own. I got a few messages from friends still at the GSY if I was joining them for drinks later that night, but I had to sadly reply that I was already at the airport awaiting my flight and could not join in the fun. I was a tad bit jealous actually because instead of partying, I was waiting for my flight! Well, my journey in the GSY ASEAN 2015 officially ended when I left the Penang International Airport at approximately 11.05pm that night.
My experience in the GSY ASEAN 2015 was really, really, REALLY amazing and eye-opening. So many people from different countries coming together and working together in solving common world problems was a sight to behold!! I think through my recount on my journey there, you could realize that I myself have changed, from a person who doesn't care much and who does not really believe in myself to a whole different person who's willing to work on it and make a mere concept become a reality. I even noticed that I've turned from a very 'technical' person to a person who could think further into the future and think outside the norm, allowing me to come up with a lot of different approaches and new ideas. The old me definitely would not think of pursuing anything that I felt was impossible but now, even without the help of the accelerator, I'm still going on with team to make Bread&Brick a reality. I can't thank the people I've met in the 3 days enough, especially my team members and mentors who have inspired me and made this a truly life-changing experience. Also, I've met a bunch of new friends who are so awesome I can't even have the words to describe!! The only regret I had was for NOT TAKING ENOUGH PICTURES!!!
Special thanks to:
Adryan, who made Bread&Brick possible through your great ingenuity and expertise in the financial industry, who was the genius behind the concept we came up with, who showed me that nothing was impossible if you really worked for it.
Eibhlin, who's a great pitcher and motivator, who showed me that age is not a barrier to be awesome in the things you do, and for showing me that many things could be achieved if you want it bad enough, who brought energy and vigor into our team and making Bread&Brick possible.
Oanh, who supported me when no one did, who stood by me through it all, who was a great supporter in our group despite having no knowledge on financial issues, who brought together our team, Bread&Brick would not have existed without you.
Sara, who is so energetic and bubbly all the time, who always have a joke or two to lighten up the mood of the team, who have great ideas and insights to better our concept and I cannot imagine Bread&Brick without you.
Piyush, who was our team's mentor, who inspired me to see things in a different perspective, who helped our team through our struggles by giving us personal insights and suggestions. The only regret I had was we did not have the chance to pitch to you but you were a great help and we appreciate it a lot.
Also to ALL who I have met and gotten to know throughout my 3-day stay, you guys were a great inspiration to me and continue to rock on in whatever you do!!
My house smoked burger!! I almost burst my tummy eating this monster!!
A chocolate milkshake for extra indulgence!! It was heavenly!!
After-pitch dinner!! Bread & Brick with friends Erjo, Nazreen and Richard!!
They have a unique way of serving your food here at Johnny Rockets :)
After dinner we separated, some went back to the hotel while me and a few others were meeting up with another group of friends. I was supposed to meet Kim and the rest so I walked all the way back to KLCC to meet them, only to be told that we were walking back to Avenue K because they decided to patronage The Library Coffee Bar, which was right beside Johnny Rockets!! I was like "Daaaammmnnn... I just walked all the way here and now we're going back there!!" We had some drinks and talked, it was nice to get to know a couple of new people there. I wanted to leave later on but in the end I agreed to adjourn to Feugo, a restaurant cum bar which was located at the 23rd floor of the building next to The Zon Hotel that offered a breathtaking view of the KLCC and an open air platform where we had our drinks.
I ordered a Negroni at Feugo's and this was how it was served!! A cup of ice and a book together with instructions to read up to chapter2!! Brilliant!!
This Negroni consists of Elijah Craig 12 Yrs Bourbon instead of gin,
Carpano antica formula and Campari. It cost me RM38 but it was worth it :)
The 23rd floor offered us an awesome view of the KLCC~
The night went on with a lot of conversations going around. It was really interesting to hear stories from different people while sharing jokes and laughter the entire night. We left when the bar was about to close and went back to the hotel. Then another chit-chatting session was in motion in suite 1101, where we had girl talks involving facial management and something about guys being rocks and whatnot the entire night all the way to 6.20 am (I remembered it because that was when the morning call came in). We —me and Kim were the only survivors then— were deciding whether to go down for breakfast or take a short nap to freshen up. We decided on the latter but it was kinda of a bad idea because I woke up feeling even more tired than ever!
The reason I lost sleep!! Love you girls <3
DAY 3 (21/3/2015)
Dragged ourselves down to breakfast after getting the rest of the girls up and packing up our luggage. Then it was back to the KLCC Convention Center where the results for the top-18 teams were to be announced. We arrived a little late and the results were already announced. My team didn't make it but it's okay, we did our best after all and there were no regrets! Then it was down to the Planery Hall where we witnessed a dialogue between great and inspiring entrepreneurs. By then the act of not sleeping the night before was beginning to affect me and well, I kinda took a couple of shut eye throughout the event. LOL!
Wooopppsss!! Got caught sneaking a few shut eyes!!
I later called my team together after lunch to discuss the probability of us succeeding with our project on our own. All 5 of us agreed that it was possible and we all agreed that we wanted this!! We wanted this!! We are shouldering on on our own and I couldn't ask any more out of my team. We're sticking together through thick and thin to see our project through and hopefully make a change in people's lives. We started to discuss and make plans for the next few weeks to come. We were so into our discussions that many mentors thought that we were actually going to pitch later on. But sadly no, we're not so we're truly on our own in this next phase but I do believe with the expertise and skills that we have individually, our concept could be made real. I guess we'll just see if it does come true :)
From strangers to a great team!!
Working with these awesome people was really an epic experience!!
Yeaaaaa... This is how we solve world problems yo!! On beanie bags!!
Bread & Brick rock!!
And apparently they don't this kinda we-fies in Indonesia or Vietnam LOL!
Our friends were confused when we told them to take it this way.
I left the Convention Center at approximately 5.30pm to catch the van that was arranged to take me to the airport at 6pm for my 9.55pm flight later that night—special thanks to Eibhlin's aunt who gave me a lift! I was really sad to have to leave so soon. I met up with my fellow Penangites who were on the same flight back in the hotel and we left for the airport. I had another really uplifting conversation with a fellow INTIan named Alex while waiting for our departure. We shared our experience and insights on the program and he was really supportive on the idea that my team has decided to accelerate on our own. I got a few messages from friends still at the GSY if I was joining them for drinks later that night, but I had to sadly reply that I was already at the airport awaiting my flight and could not join in the fun. I was a tad bit jealous actually because instead of partying, I was waiting for my flight! Well, my journey in the GSY ASEAN 2015 officially ended when I left the Penang International Airport at approximately 11.05pm that night.
Arriving at the Penang International Airport when the others are still having fun in KL :(
My experience in the GSY ASEAN 2015 was really, really, REALLY amazing and eye-opening. So many people from different countries coming together and working together in solving common world problems was a sight to behold!! I think through my recount on my journey there, you could realize that I myself have changed, from a person who doesn't care much and who does not really believe in myself to a whole different person who's willing to work on it and make a mere concept become a reality. I even noticed that I've turned from a very 'technical' person to a person who could think further into the future and think outside the norm, allowing me to come up with a lot of different approaches and new ideas. The old me definitely would not think of pursuing anything that I felt was impossible but now, even without the help of the accelerator, I'm still going on with team to make Bread&Brick a reality. I can't thank the people I've met in the 3 days enough, especially my team members and mentors who have inspired me and made this a truly life-changing experience. Also, I've met a bunch of new friends who are so awesome I can't even have the words to describe!! The only regret I had was for NOT TAKING ENOUGH PICTURES!!!
Special thanks to:
Adryan, who made Bread&Brick possible through your great ingenuity and expertise in the financial industry, who was the genius behind the concept we came up with, who showed me that nothing was impossible if you really worked for it.
Eibhlin, who's a great pitcher and motivator, who showed me that age is not a barrier to be awesome in the things you do, and for showing me that many things could be achieved if you want it bad enough, who brought energy and vigor into our team and making Bread&Brick possible.
Oanh, who supported me when no one did, who stood by me through it all, who was a great supporter in our group despite having no knowledge on financial issues, who brought together our team, Bread&Brick would not have existed without you.
Sara, who is so energetic and bubbly all the time, who always have a joke or two to lighten up the mood of the team, who have great ideas and insights to better our concept and I cannot imagine Bread&Brick without you.
Group hug!!
I love working with you guys and I hope we really continue to do so in the future!!
Piyush, who was our team's mentor, who inspired me to see things in a different perspective, who helped our team through our struggles by giving us personal insights and suggestions. The only regret I had was we did not have the chance to pitch to you but you were a great help and we appreciate it a lot.
Also to ALL who I have met and gotten to know throughout my 3-day stay, you guys were a great inspiration to me and continue to rock on in whatever you do!!
GSY ASEAN 2015
