It’s been quite a year. While I haven’t graduated quite yet, I am now officially finished with my coursework here at INSEAD. It is a good feeling to be wrapping up a major step in my life. Looking back at where I was just two short years ago (when this blog began) quite a lot has changed.
In 2007, I was working at C&S Wholesale Grocers and progressing well in my career. I was comfortable in the United States, but felt that I wanted more. I always knew I wanted to pursue my MBA and felt that the time had come to take the leap. Before even applying to school, I quit my job and moved to Guatemala to volunteer – fulfilling a commitment I had made to myself back when I was in high school. In Guatemala I learnt Spanish and began searching through the list of MBA programs to find the right fit. After a tense application process I was admitted to and accepted an opportunity to come here to INSEAD.
Had I joined a two year program, my life at this moment would be quite different. I would be wrapping up my core corsework and probably preparing for an internship. The recession would still be weighing heavily on my shoulders. My friends and classmates, while diverse, would be predominately from the United States and I might have traveled overseas once or twice during winter break or some other vacation.
Instead, at INSEAD, it’s been a fast-paced tour of the world.I have completed my MBA in just 10 short months. I’ve visited over 20 countries and probably well over 100 cities. In school I made some great friends, met my academic goals, and won two business venture competitions. I have the job I’ve always wanted and am a part of two startups that will carry on after school. I now have the summer free to travel the US and catch up with some old friends.
A friend of mine was telling me how last week he was Paris, Fontainebleau, London, the Channel Islands and then ended up in Goa before coming back to Sigapore. It’s not unusual to have friends taking on that sort of schedule. I guess part of INSEAD is having the global network where those sorts of trips don’t seem too out of the ordinary. I myself had some crazy ventures like a weekend trip from Singapore to Frankfurt, and another weekend trip from Singapore to Paris then London. In my job I’m sure that the travel will increase if anything.
INSEAD is a school that is so unique from anything else. As a pure-play business school the program stands alone from a larger university, giving it some flexibilty in its operations. We can study on three continents (though I just studied on two) and we wrap it all up in 10 short months. You make friends from every corner of the world and the world will continue to feel both more grand and yet smaller at the same time.
All in all, I am so happy with my decision. I am fortunate and cannot forget that, but this past year has been one that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
