Well, it’s finally official…the first year of my MBA experience is over. I had a take home exam and a final project due for two classes today and got those joints done yesterday, so I’m free and clear. I’m now back in good ol’ VA at my sister’s house and it feels good to be able to say that I survived the first year and, while it seemed to go too slowly for words at times, I can’t help but think that it flew by as I look back on the MBA1 year. Coming in as someone with no real business expertise, I learned a ton in the classroom and from my classmates, which I hope I’ll be able to put to good use when I start work on Monday. Even more important than that, I would say that I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on things during these three quarters and have re-evaluated my stance on several issues, including my career aspirations, opinions of others, and view on relationships…business school is just the sort of change I needed at this point in my development as a professional and as a person overall.
I’ve been told by a lot of people that I’ve taken a lot of risks with how candid I’ve been in describing the MBA experience so far, but I can’t help but do so because that’s how I get down. When I started writing in this blog, my intention was to give folks a real view of what it’s like to go to business school and I hope that that’s what i’ve done. Many people, including myself, have some preconceived notions about it being easy to be successful at this and, as you’ve probably gathered from my entries, this is far from easy. It might be fun at times, but it is also hard work and can be down-right stressful at times. I’ve been told that I shouldn’t have said so much about my internship search struggles, but I just wanted to show that, if your interview game isn’t on point, you will have problems just like I did. People have said that I slipped up by using the real names of companies that I interviewed with, but I wanted to show that there are highs and lows to the treatment that students get while they’re interviewing and companies aren’t going to kiss your feet just because you go to a good school. Finally, I have been told that I shouldn’t have talked so much about how hard the work was for most of the year, but I fell victim to a tendency to care too much about grades instead of focusing on learning and enjoying the time at school. I didn’t realize that I’d messed up there until 2 quarters into the school year, so I hope that others who’ve read my stories will have the right mindset coming in and will save themselves the stress of staying up until 2-3am every night trying to read every selection for each day’s lectures.
Overall, I just want people to see what this is all like and, if that ends up making me look like the most bootleg, unqualified, stressed, high-strung MBA student of all time, then so be it…at least, y’all can rest assured that I’m being as real as possible. With that said, I wouldn’t have traded what I’ve gone through in the past three quarters of school for anything. I’ve learned more about myself and what i’m capable of during this period than in any other outside of my time at Princeton. I thank God every day that Derrick Bolton and his staff slipped up and let me into the GSB because I know that I’m a much different person now than I was when I arrived on campus last Sept and I will develop even further between now and next June when i graduate. I guess this is the official start of my summer experience, so the next entry will take off from there.
One more thing before I go…VA DONE COME UP!!! (I just had to throw that in there because it feels SO good to be back in the greatest state in the USA)
I’ve been told by a lot of people that I’ve taken a lot of risks with how candid I’ve been in describing the MBA experience so far, but I can’t help but do so because that’s how I get down. When I started writing in this blog, my intention was to give folks a real view of what it’s like to go to business school and I hope that that’s what i’ve done. Many people, including myself, have some preconceived notions about it being easy to be successful at this and, as you’ve probably gathered from my entries, this is far from easy. It might be fun at times, but it is also hard work and can be down-right stressful at times. I’ve been told that I shouldn’t have said so much about my internship search struggles, but I just wanted to show that, if your interview game isn’t on point, you will have problems just like I did. People have said that I slipped up by using the real names of companies that I interviewed with, but I wanted to show that there are highs and lows to the treatment that students get while they’re interviewing and companies aren’t going to kiss your feet just because you go to a good school. Finally, I have been told that I shouldn’t have talked so much about how hard the work was for most of the year, but I fell victim to a tendency to care too much about grades instead of focusing on learning and enjoying the time at school. I didn’t realize that I’d messed up there until 2 quarters into the school year, so I hope that others who’ve read my stories will have the right mindset coming in and will save themselves the stress of staying up until 2-3am every night trying to read every selection for each day’s lectures.
Overall, I just want people to see what this is all like and, if that ends up making me look like the most bootleg, unqualified, stressed, high-strung MBA student of all time, then so be it…at least, y’all can rest assured that I’m being as real as possible. With that said, I wouldn’t have traded what I’ve gone through in the past three quarters of school for anything. I’ve learned more about myself and what i’m capable of during this period than in any other outside of my time at Princeton. I thank God every day that Derrick Bolton and his staff slipped up and let me into the GSB because I know that I’m a much different person now than I was when I arrived on campus last Sept and I will develop even further between now and next June when i graduate. I guess this is the official start of my summer experience, so the next entry will take off from there.
One more thing before I go…VA DONE COME UP!!! (I just had to throw that in there because it feels SO good to be back in the greatest state in the USA)
marquis – believe me, a factual evaluation is much more appreciated than a manipulated version. it helps a great deal – atleast to people outside GSB. i am sure how people in gsb will feel about all you write, but considering the objective of this blog – you have done a great job.
Kudos !
Thanks for the love, FG. I guess I just mentioned it because I’ve had so many people hit me up and tell me the things I noted in the entry. It’s all good though because at least i know that I’m being completely honest.
Agree with FG here, your blog has been very informative and a great insight into the GSB experience. I hope to meet the person behind the blog in the fall!
pretty expected behaviour from people around you. with stanford having such a great name – letting it down(even though slightly) hurts – maybe pretty bad to some folks out there. but on the flip side – even though it angers 50 guys(i hope the number is not more than that) – it helps atleast a 100 people outside gsb who read your blog with a complete different perspective.
Marquis, one of your greatest qualities is … realness … think you got that from me (smiles). I’m proud of all you’ve accomplished and I got your back! You can and WILL do all that you put your mind and heart to. Continue son … don’t sweat the small stuff. God bless you and keep you as you follow your dreams. All things truly are possible if you believe.