Thank You, WYA! :-)

To the people who have rocked my world (youth alliance),

In exactly two weeks, a beautiful young lady, named Desiree Go will be the Regional Director of Operations of WYA Asia Pacific. And I will officially join the World Mature Alliance. :-)

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for everything. There is much to say - and I am hoping to squish it all in this email (blog). :-)

Working with such bright and passionate people from around the world has been such an amazing experience. I spent the last three and a half years meeting such exceptional young people through the trainings, the activities and whatever else it is that we do to make WYA run.

As fun, exciting and wonderful as it was – it was also the most humbling experience of my life. To be honest, when I first started working fulltime with WYA, I felt like the most incompetent person in the world (youth alliance). There was a lot to learn and there was a ton to do. For someone who was used to being good at what she does, getting things done on time and doing it with ease and confidence, the job was my ego's worst nightmare. There were many things that I learned from WYA – how to articulate what the dignity of the person is about, how to deal with different kinds of people, how to speed read and how to boil water (yes, I learned that in New York). But the most important thing I learned from WYA was the virtue of humility.

Really – if one looks at the roster of staff and alumni, one cannot help but be in awe of the accomplishments of those that have come before her. Going through training sets 1 to 4 wasn't exactly a picnic either. Facing Anna and saying "May I have an extension please?" was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. When your goal is to impact policy and culture – when the issues that you face are poverty and war – it becomes very difficult to measure success. Talking about dignity and empowering young people to believe in themselves and what they can do was always fulfilling – but when the same child approaches you (for three years) and asks for money everyday as you step out of your office, it makes you question how far you've really gone and what it is you are actually accomplishing.

Being able to accept that we cannot change the world overnight, being able to accept that we cannot do everything on our TO DO list, being able to say "I tried my best, and I will continue trying" has taught me much. It was humbling in the sense that I learned how to ask for help, for forgiveness and to see the world through the eyes of those from a different region, culture or faith.

Watching the members that I train with grow has been the most fulfilling part of my stay at WYA. Listening to these members passionately discuss the readings, the current state of the world or their personal lives and linking it to their humanity, development or this idea of dignity always leaves me with something new to reflect on. It is amazing to watch them grow and mature as they articulate these ideas and lead projects of their own. And again, I am humbled at how good they are, seeing that they have become wiser and more responsible than me.

Not too long ago, in some random bar in New York City, Monsignor Ruben Dimaculangan encouraged me to take the post. I didn't think I was prepared. He looked at me with a face that seemed to say Do you think you will ever be prepared? Then he smiled and said – Grow where you are planted. You will learn and you will grow. And like I said, I believe I did grow in many ways (including horizontally). The small victories and successes that we had as an organization made my heart soar with pride. The personal accomplishments were just as fulfilling. I'd like to think that as I grew, the organization grew as well.

What attracts many people to WYA is the fact that we are young and dynamic – always moving, growing and passionate. It is our strength – something we should learn to hone and take advantage of. The training, the professionalism and the management – these skills are what we hope to pass on to the other WYA members that will be next in line – because I am sure they will use these tools in ways we can't even begin to imagine.

AP is going to experience its second turnover of staff – from me to Des. Desiree is one of the most charming, competent, passionate young ladies I have ever met. There are many things that she is capable of doing and many things I know she is capable of learning. I am excited for her to grow in her position, to love the job the same way I did. She has fallen head over heels in love with WYA – the cause and the projects and the people. I guess it is because our work is not just work – but a huge part of our lives.

Sometimes, I look back and think – am I ready to leave? I have a few mores years before I reach thirty and I know there is much more that I can offer, and much more than I can learn. Again, it is with much humility, that I see how the young ones around me have so much more to offer, that they have what it takes to move the organization to places we can only dream of, and that they deserve the chance to make it happen. They are the same ones who push me to grow as well, to move beyond what has become my comfort zone.

It is with a happy and hopeful heart that I quote Dag Hammarskjold - For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.