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Notes from Mary D.

Filed under SOM MBA Office
Posted by , August 03, 2006
View all posts for August 2006

As is traditional at this time of year, this is one of my moments of annual reflection for both graduating and non graduating students, even though my thoughts are similar from last year, there is no question the answers to the questions are different this year than last year!!

For Those of You Who Aren’t Graduating…
Congratulations to all of you!! Some students have finished their 2nd semester, others are finishing their 3rd, 5th, or 8th semester!! As you watch all the graduating students prepare to get their degrees tomorrow, there are usually a variety of reactions ranging from “I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel” to “the end of that tunnel doesn’t look very close to me right now!”

But, each semester is a major milestone and you need to celebrate it, and reflection is a good way to celebrate things!! Think about how you approach problems or situations vs. how you did 6 months, a year, two years, or three years ago. Think about how you read the newspaper or react to financial or world events. Think about how your confidence levels have risen as a result of your experiences in the classroom. Think about class participation and what you did well, whether it was just having the confidence to try, if you took a stand on a issue, encouraged someone else to get involved in the conversation, or presented as part of your BGGE, Leading, or Marketing presentations knowing it was really difficult and would have been easy to defer to your colleagues that are comfortable speaking in large groups. Think about your grades and how psyched you were to get a grade on a paper or exam that reflected all of your hard work and effort. Think about how you helped or saw someone else help a classmate struggle through a concept and then all of a sudden the light bulbs go off!! Think about the things that excited you intellectually. Think about how you balanced all the other competing priorities in your life with school, and how you have learned to juggle them all! Think about next year and what you want to do, try, continue or change.

But for the next 5 weeks, relax and have some fun!! Go to the beach, read a book, go out to dinner with friends and family. September will be here before you know it and we will be thrilled to see you all back again in a few weeks!!

For Those of You Who Are Graduating…
Read my note to non graduating students because as you have now all completed your program, lots of memories and moments will surface with every question!!

Can you believe that graduation is this tomorrow?? As I have talked with many students over these last few weeks, many are bittersweet about this week. Happy to be done with all the papers and deliverables, happy to not have to read another case and do more analysis! Thrilled that you have earned your degree and bubbling with confidence, new skills and a different view of so many things. But, many are sad that you will leave the familiarity and routine of coming to school every day or after work, being intellectually stimulated and seeing your friends and colleagues. In October, you will wonder how you did it all as your lives will fill back up quickly with work, family and new jobs!!

I am so proud of each of you and know that great things lie ahead for each of you. Many people will say to you “good luck” over the next few days. Remember my favorite definition of luck, which is “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” We have prepared you, and the opportunities await you. Graduation is just the beginning of another great chapter in your lives. We are proud to have worked beside you and with you during your MBA program and will miss you. But know that a warm welcome will always be here when you come back!