We are the young and naïve who chose the challenge of trekking across years of schooling only to hit an inevitable canyon. Crossing that canyon may be impossible for the few who chose the easy route and must turn around because they lack the training to scale this milestone obstacle. For a majority, it will be difficult, but possible. However, for those who become best prepared, there will be a bridge that will provide us an unfettered passage. There is no finish line to this challenge and the fight is only uphill past the canyon. However, with some advice from those who have already succeeded, the best tools, and continuous education of the best techniques – the uphill fight will be as rewarding as it is challenging.

The UNLV IAEE Student Chapter has helped many students bridge the gap from graduation to professional. It has exposed students to a helping hand that will be there five, ten, twenty-five, and fifty years after graduation on the journey to joining the legends in the meetings industry. It has also taught us the valuable lesson of not burning the bridges that we meet and to share with others those bridges so that they too can cross and continue the journey.

As for myself, being apart of IAEE has nearly eliminated my fears the imminent canyon. This includes my doubts of finding a reaching hand that I will look for when I fall, my doubts of being surpassed by future graduates, my doubts of the worn-out tools that I have held on to, and my doubts of not finding the way. My once solo future will no longer be solo. I will be joining other professionals, some ahead and some behind, who will be there to lend a hand when I fall. I will receive continuous education so that I would be able to stay on track and maybe climb even faster. I will have access to most innovative tools to make my journey easier and more efficient. And in the distance, I will see those whose footsteps that I am following so I will never get lost.
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I recently attended a forum at the Meetings Professional International conference in Las Vegas where the rookies and the seniors tried to find the common ground on their perspective of the career. Amongst the topics included “What drew us to the meetings industry?” We shared a unanimous background of “being the one who planned small events” and eventually realized the potential of turning that experience into a career. There was not any particular feature of the industry that attracted us to it - it was the realization of our own passion that drove us toward it. We shared a passion and the talent of the ability to successfully bring people together in a perfect environment. It is our passion that has brought together the doctors that save lives, the businessmen that create tomorrow, the technology elites that draws the future closer, and the consumers that hold the economy. The pursuit of our passion is quite important for humanity. So I urge you, the you at all levels in your meetings career, to help young professionals cross the bridge and join you as compatriots.

Andrew Kao
Chapter Chairman
UNLV IAEE Student Chapter