Swing for the fences. …

I’ve been a Boothie for a while now, but I’ve actually been a student for a little under a week. I’ll be candid with you: its been a roller-coaster! And I did not expect anything different 🙂

I have never been so overwhelmed by the sheer number of smart people in one room! Also if anyone knows any cloning facility, I’d be happy to sign up – I need only 12 more copies of myself to take all the courses on offer. It is always amazing to see so many people who know what they want and are heading towards it with such vigorous focus except when you are the one person that is not entirely certain of your path to your goal. I was almost out of pep talks to give myself when we had the alumni panels and I realized that I was in good company. (Also that a lot of people are faking being sure – but that’s not my business).

A lot of people have asked me how my experience with business school has been so far and that is what I’m here to tell. It’s been the most tiring, invigorating, eye-opening week of my life and I have only just started! I didn’t go on random walk but I have friends – yes, in plural and yes in one week. I have never introduced myself so many times before (maybe even the sum total of all my introductions are less than what I racked up last week), or had my name mispronounced so consistently that I have adopted the new pronunciation. Chicago weather is temperamental but we’ve been lucky, so no complaints in that area. I have realized that I don’t like beer that much and American beer is not different, just overpriced  (jk – only applies to bars), tacos are nice, American cuisine revolves mostly around bread and food is totally different from what I’m used to but I can survive especially as Booth has been feeding me (orientation).

Is Booth nerdy? Maybe. I’ll let you know when classes start. But I do know that these people will look out for you. Share ideas, bidding strategies, costume ideas, invite you for cookouts, share an uber, introduce you to family, buy you a drink, tell you where to go to get anything and everything, talk with you, laugh with you, share their network and plans with you. In one week. If Boothies are not collaborative, I have no idea what the word means. That is one fear that I am glad was a false alarm. The diversity in the class is beyond words, I can’t explain it even if I tried which I am not. There are so many people who are extremely accomplished, I don’t know how I got in but I’m glad I did.

For the most part, I still have no idea of my path to my long term career goal but its ok because I have an amazing amount of resources  (except time which is limited) to figure it out. And because I can “swing for the fences, Booth’s got my back”. That’s dean Kumar’s quote but it seems appropriate.

This feels more of a ramble than a post 🙂 in my defense, it is 1:30am and I spent 9 hours in Harper (which is beautiful, you should come visit) yesterday and I’m deciding on classes and costumes – long story, not for this post.

Class of 2018; all the best with your apps. If you need an extra pair of eyes on your essays or app – shoot me an email before noon (US central time) on Monday (tomorrow 14th September). Naijambagal@gmail.com