First semester reflection

Wow. i can't believe the Core is coming to a close. the semester has truly flown by. With both the last day of classes and my first final next week, i thought i'd take a moment to reflect.

Classes
i wasn't totally sold on the virtues of taking nearly all of my first semester classes with my ocean (cohort), but as i sat through the last day of class for some of my courses, one benefit became very clear: the bonding that occurs when you struggle through something with others. Having done my undergrad at UC Berkeley with 300+ student classrooms, the intimacy of my ~60 person Sloan classes has made the experience that much more meaningful to me. i actually found myself saddened by the fact that courses were ending and i'd no longer be learning regularly from some amazing professors.

Sloanies
My classmates as a group are the most unassuming, down-to-earth, and amazing people i've met. their humility sometimes causes me to forget how accomplished and talented they are. they definitely have challenged me to do better, but also helped me along the way. i'm thankful that i had great people on both my core and marketing teams, as well as the other friends that have helped me keep my sanity throughout the semester. i look forward to next semester when we're told things should slow down a bit, and i get a chance to get to know and bond further with other Sloanies.

Opportunities
i've heard countless CEO's and heads of businesses speak on their experiences and challenging leadership issues. i've had the chance to chat with startup founders and VC's (venture capitalists) on various entrepreneurial topics. In the first week of January, i'll be touring Silicon Valley with the E&I (Entrepreneurship & Innovation) Progam, visiting a variety of VC's and startups. On the side of pure fun, i went to two Red Sox playoff games at Fenway, including ALCS game 7, and a Celtics game with 20+ other classmates in a luxury box.

Personal growth
There's a stereotype that b-school is a two-year vacation filled with socializing and drinking. While there's definitely plenty of opportunity to connect with people, it's far from a vacation. i don't think i've ever been busier in my life. With that, i've surprised myself with how much i've been able to grow, especially in time-management and prioritization. Given the vast number of things constantly happen, i was forced to constantly pick between two or more things i really wanted to do. i've learned to make that choice quicker and move on.

Anyway, this post has taken a bit longer than i expected. i should get going on my Econ studying before heading to the Celtics game tonight. :)