A month as a Mozilla Rep

I officially become a Mozilla Representative since 20 August which means it was more than a month now. And to think about it, I feel like I’ve learned so much in only a month. I’ve organized 7 school visit last month as part of the webmaker app launch campaign in Indonesia. Even if it was not an official project for me as a Moz Rep but still, it taught me so much in my early stage as a ReMo. So here is 3 things that I’ve learned during this time :

1. Being a Moz Rep means I have to meet a lot of people.

And not only that because sometimes I should take care of them too. Which is, it exhaust me as an introvert. Honestly speaking, I’ve been thinking about it before join this program. Because I know even if I enjoy to meet lot of people, there are also times when I prefer to be only with myself. I just don’t know if it’s gonna be this tiresome (omg, is it an aging symptoms? haha). Or maybe it’s better to think that it’s because there are too much events in such a pretty tight schedule, so I feel easily tired to deal with so many people.

2. I have to be more careful when I speak in an event.

I mean, I speak on behalf of Mozilla and I am Mozilla’s face there so I should be super careful when I speak. I believe I know what I’m saying, but sometimes I still afraid if people will interpret it the wrong way.

3. It’s not merely about status and pride.

Just because you’re a volunteer, doesn’t mean that everyone will praise you for doing such a noble thing. Many people are going to knock you down and pout about what you are doing. And you have to deal with it. Even my parents sometimes still complain about my activities in Mozilla, haha. So, I think you need to have a strong reason to be a Moz Rep.

When you’re a Moz Rep, people will start to think that you have some kind of authority. And, people will also pointed out to you, because they think that you’re the one who have the status. I experienced it myself, as some people ask me not only question like “why would I contribute to Mozilla?”, or “what’s the benefits that I get from contributing?” but worse, they accused me that I invite them to contribute for my own benefit. Which I find it hurts.

Being a Moz Reps not only means that you’ll meet so many people but also you’ll face the more diverse perspective from them. I’ve once met someone who deplore my contribution for foreign organization, whereas in Indonesia itself we have so many problem that I can probably help. So it got me rethinking about, why Mozilla?

Well, I start to contribute to Mozilla in the end of 2012. I’m a sophomore student back then, and I think I need to broaden my knowledge and Mozilla seems like an exciting ground for me to take part. So I join and only contribute when I feel like to.

But then I join the Firefox Student Ambassador program where I finally get to know the community which already feels like family now. So when someone ask me about why I contribute to Mozilla and not the others? My answer is, it’s like a first love you know. I contribute to Mozilla earlier before the other and now that 3 years passed I feel like it’s not only me who help Mozilla, but Mozilla is also help me back to grow as a better person. It’s an opportunity to grow together that keep me as a volunteer there.

But I’m still sad for the fact that there is someone who think that I invite them to contribute for my own benefit. Whereas my intention is to introduce them to our community so they know there is an opportunity to learn and grow together with Mozilla just like what I’ve experienced all this time.

Whoa, it’s a lot more story than a month experience as a Moz Rep. And I feel that someone will think that I’m lamenting my decision right now, haha. Well, I’m just sad because I never think before that someone will hurt me for what I’m doing for Mozilla (yeah, I’m just too naive) which I experienced it after I become a Moz Rep.

And I think it’s so much easier to be a casual volunteer than a Moz Rep. At least for me, because I’ve been contributing for Mozilla for 3 years before join the Moz Rep program this year. But it’s still too early to say that I regret it, because I’m still excited for another exciting possibilities that will come. ^^

And actually, being a Moz Rep also comes with so much learning opportunity. Through ReMo, I can practive my public speaking ability, learn more about management, and even event-organizing. haha. Aaand, I can’t agree more with Bob from MozPH community who say that :

You DO NOT NEED to become a Mozilla Rep to be an awesome Mozillian.

Because being an awesome Mozillian through Mozilla Rep is exhausting. hahaaa. :b