(This was originally posted on my Facebook page on November 30, 2017, and edited for posting in WordPress.)
For a few times, I have been asked, why am I so determined to join the MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp? Once and for all – you might also be interested to know – I will answer that question now, as candidly as I can.
I think, talking about my advocacy on energy sustainability as my main motivation is just scratching the surface. Perhaps, it doesn’t answer the real “why”.
The first time I saw the post on Facebook about this Bootcamp more than a month ago, I had been itching to apply. I didn’t worry about the cost, because as mentioned in the website, “Please don’t worry about the cost to attend, just apply.” It was a leap of faith, and I had nothing to lose – so during my short break in the last week of October, with barely five days left before the deadline, I applied. After going through three rounds of screening, on November 16, I got admitted to the program. Two weeks afterwards, I have been able to raise more than 5000 US dollars, getting me closer to my 10,000-USD funding target.
My acceptance letter.
But then again, as I get to the bottom of things, I felt the need to evaluate myself and my circumstances in order to understand why I am doing all these, and why people continue to support me.
It’s because of privilege, which I don’t have.
I am one of the many who cannot afford to take too much risks, but has the hunger to do so.
Not everybody is born privileged. Not everyone is born with a business to be managed once he/she graduates from the university or earns a few years of corporate experience. Not everyone has enough financial buffer to quit an eight-hour day job, and explore uncharted territories and possibly come up with a brilliant startup. Not everyone has enough time to sit on a brilliant random idea and transform it into a successful venture.
I am one of the many who cannot afford to take too much risks, but has the hunger to do so.
This is precisely the reason why I felt truly affirmed when an old friend pledged to donate because he thinks that financial constraints shouldn’t hinder anyone in pursuits like this.
I know that I don’t know enough.
Anyone who knows me well enough would probably say I am kinda nerdy (well I have quite a lot of friends who are nerdier!). Maybe not because I look like one, but more of, me being thrilled when talking about trivia, science, and ideas. However, I believe that I shouldn’t end there.
It is quite frustrating how a lot of great ideas just remain as such and at most get printed out and circulated only among people in the same league. I want to get out of that bubble, and become one of those who can help translate outstanding ideas into tangible solutions that are useful to society and commercially viable enough to be sustainable. But as of now, I honestly know I don’t know how.
I am lucky.
And what could be the best thing one can do about luck? Make the most of it, and better yet, make it useful to others (hopefully).
I personally know a number people who I think deserve to be part of the MIT Bootcamp more than I do. These people have proven themselves in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability way more than I have. But maybe they haven’t applied. Maybe they didn’t see the Facebook ad. Or maybe they are not at all interested.
To some extent, I may not be worthy enough, but I must say I am truly lucky. And what could be the best thing one can do about luck? Make the most of it, and better yet, make it useful to others (hopefully).
It’s MIT, my friends.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been ranked 1st in the QS Top Universities list and 5th by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The MIT Sloan School of Management (which organizes the Bootcamp) is ranked 1st and 4th best business school by Times Higher Ed and QS Top Unis, respectively. With an overall acceptance rate of around 8%, what are the chances of me (or anyone of us) getting in? Miniscule, for sure.
(Image from MIT website)
The MIT Bootcamp may not be equivalent to a full-time academic study, but it is an extremely rare opportunity to get a speck and glimpse of what it’s like to be MIT-educated.
Indeed, the tuition for the Bootcamp is very expensive, but to put things in perspective, an Executive MBA at MIT costs around 8000 USD a month, while the Bootcamp, whose tuition is 6000 USD contains a semester-worth of content compressed into a week.
I represent others’ aspirations.
Opportunities are fleeting. It’s either you chase them, or let them just pass you by.
A number of people expressed that they pledged support because they see in me their aspirations and that I inspire them and other people to pursue their dreams. To be quite frank about it, getting to the Bootcamp is not my dream. Nonetheless, it is an exceptional opportunity that is good and perhaps worth pursuing. Opportunities are fleeting. It’s either you chase them, or let them just pass you by.
As I’ve said many times already, since a lot of you have already gotten involved in this journey of mine, how could I just easily give up?
******
Indeed, 10,000 US Dollars (~500,000 Pesos) is not a small amount. It would be more than enough to feed a small family for a year. It may actually be enough to fully support a student through college. There are more causes more worthy of support than my participation in the Bootcamp. These reasons and more, are exactly why I have never directly asked nor obliged anyone to chip in to fund me – I think it would be selfish to do so. But then, these are the same reasons why I am profoundly touched every time someone pledges his/her support be it financially or just by letting me know they’re behind me.
What I’ve achieved, where I am now, and where I’ll go, I owe to the goodness and generosity of people. I cannot be thankful enough. I look forward to the day when it will be my turn to make others seize opportunities, pay forward, and give back to society.
As we go through the next month raising the remaining amount, I will appreciate any form of support from you guys. I will forever be grateful.
Crowdfunding site: https://gogetfunding.com/BringEnzoToBrisbane/
MIT Bootcamp site: http://bootcamp.mit.edu/entrepreneurship/sustainability/
Sponsorship Package: https://goo.gl/j3fhGn
With all my love and appreciation,
Enzo
[Main photo was taken during my trip to Massachusetts in 2014 with my teammate, Alyssa, as part of our prize for winning Go Green in the City 2013]
And so what? (Enzo's personal blog) 
[…] Privilege, Luck, and Aspiration: My MIT Bootcamp Pre-story […]
LikeLike