Stressed out much?

Let me take you through a typical second year MBA students life in his/her last semester of B-school. Job search, job search, job search.. and when you have a spec of time... JOB SEARCH. With the lagging economy, preponderant layoffs, and companies filing for chapter 9 bankruptcy; it is quite difficult to successfully job search. So while the majority of us are stressed out, I find relief in some fun. Besides, all that stress leads to wrinkles, arthritis, prescription pills called Prozac and unflattering irritability in a person's personality. I wanted to avoid all this so I found an outlet by organizing some "bonding" time with first and second years.

As co-president of NAWMBA, I wanted to get to know the first year members. So I planned a night of outing with all the girls at AMF bowling in Santa Monica! I almost made it to 3 digits (highest score was a 99). We had a great turnout as 20 1st/2nd years attended. I have to admit that it took my mind off from my daily job search and rejuvenated me for what's to come of my future. I mean, it can only get better right? Kinda like bowling, it rolls, rolls and eventually falls, hopefully hitting something along the way. So maybe if I keep at it, I'll eventually bump into something that was meant to be. That is my cure all advise to those suffering from depression, anxiety attacks and wrinkles. (common symptoms of 2nd year MBA students in his/her last semester) ^^

Safety Net~

"When you're young, your whole life is about the pursuit of fun. Then, you grow up and learn to be cautious. You could break a bone or a heart. You look before you leap and sometimes you don't leap at all because there's not always someone there to catch you. And in life, there's no safety net. When did it stop being fun and start being scary?” SATC

A direct quote from one of my favorite episodes from the TV show Sex and the City. I find it interesting how Carrie Bradshaw and I can find parallelism through relationship with B-School.

 

So it is my final semester at Pepperdine as an MBA student. I could not tell you how fast the past year and half went by.... When I started the program in August 2007, I was young. (well younger than I am now..) Everything Pepperdine had to offer had exceeded my expectations. I loved my peers, professors, classes and I got to live in Malibu! I have had the time of my life at Pepperdine while obtaining my MBA. Everything was so fresh and I learned the true meaning of "networking." So it comes as a shock that I have only 12 more weeks of school left. I have 12 more weeks of my "safety" net before I head out to the real world. Suddenly, I am getting cold feet and dreading taking that leap into the "real" world. All the case studies, constant group works and presentations were excellent practice. However, school is one big safety net where if you fall, your professor will pick you right back up and let you try again. 

Here's the thing. Once you realize there is no safety net, you get cautious in life. And as soon as you start to get cautious, fun becomes non-existent. So here's my latest epiphany at 11pm on a Sunday night. I have been given this great opportunity to further my education for the past 2 years. While my finance/accounting classes were a bit dry for me, I was passionate about learning the materials. I put myself out there in group projects, in class discussions and everything Pepperdine had to offer. The reason I was able to take risks is largely due to the fact that I had a B-school safety net under me. While B-School preps you for the real world, it is not the real world.

But passion and being cautious is very correlated. If you're too cautious in life, then how can you ever going to take risks? And if you never take risks, how are you going to ever realize your true passion in life? By putting myself out there at Pepperdine, I have developed confidence in myself through realizing my passions. Therefore, when I do take that leap in April (when I graduate) I may not be so scared. True I'll have no safety net, but then again, why would anyone want a safety net underneath them their whole life? 

A classic life experience~ When I was 14 years old, I learned how to walk in my mom's 3.5 inch heels. I practiced on top of my parents king size bed (my mom would be livid if she ever found out) so that when I fell, I had cusions around me. But after I perfected my strides in those fabulous Chloe heels, I began to strut on the streets in the "real" world. And I've never thought twice about needing a safety net.

Where's Tal??

So classes officially started this week and it feels great to be back. It'll be 80 degrees all week, sunny and with campus overlooking the gorgeous blue ocean, how can anyone not be thrilled to be an MBA student at Pepperdine? And why would anyone want to live anywhere else? Seriously. Upon return to Malibu, I felt the love as I was bombarded with questions from friends, professors and even random first years about my study abroad experiences. Let's just say I definitely felt the love as I got a warm, genuine welcome~

However, it is a bit hard to adjust back to the 4 hour classes at Pepperdine. I had 80 minutes classes at KAIST that I had gotten so comfortable with. On top of that , I started with Business Law 8am Monday morning! Lucky for me that I am interested in Business Law because the class deals with a lot of employment law issues. And with my HR background, the class can come in very handy to me. For the other 17 study abroad students in the class, I cannot say that they share my enthusiasm, especially 8am Monday morning. 

Another thing that I am not used to is all the new faces. As a social butterfly, I knew the majority of people on campus. But as I sat in the computer lab one morning, printing out my syllabus, I was suddenly surrounded by ALL new faces. Yup, there they were, the newbies, the 1st years taking over our territory! And my side-kick, my partner in crime Tal was no longer to be found anywhere on campus. This was probably the most devastating part. To return home and not find the person you most missed  being in class with. Tal is actually on maternity leave this semester and will graduate in the summer. But classes, NAWMBA and Pepeprdine in general is definitely not the same without my dear friend. I miss you lots TAL!!!!