Thursday, October 8, 2009

After the S.C. Johnson Case competition, the Class of 2011 has been very busy. It seems as if every time we complete one task, it is time to gear up for the next one! In one week, we took two quizzes, turned in a paper, did resume reviews, and attended multiple corporate briefings. This past weekend, many of us went on career or club treks to New York City to meet with alumni and visit companies. Others of us attended informational interviews and office hours with companies that took time out of their busy schedule to travel to Ithaca. Thank you to a great alumni network! We have been finalizing our resumes and trying to pick our immersions. In between the delicate balance of career exploration and academics, we try to blow off a little steam and even get introspective.

As final exams loom right around the corner, I took most of the weekend off. I spent a pretty penny buying hockey equipment for the Johnson School women's hockey team, appropriately called the "Frozen Assets." Our first official practice was humbling to say the least. As a former soccer player, I thought my field sense might translate to the hockey rink, but I forgot that simple basics might impede my success; I am terrible on ice skates! We also had a Veterans club beer call and I had a nice dinner out on the town.

At a recent corporate briefing, a Johnson alum and friend of mine stated, "I want to be part of a company that values my experiences." A classmate and I talked a lot about this, and it is still on my mind. Almost everyone at business school is a career changer. We are all trying to consider the full package of what we will be doing after graduation. As we all go through the core, it is hard to stay authentic, yet remain open to all of the options presented in a two-year MBA program. I have come up with one conclusion: I hope that I can have a positive influence on my surroundings no matter where I am, yet find a career field that values my entire skill set.

Off to study for finals!