Z - SufFolk Tale

Lessons Learned

The semester is only about halfway through but already I'm anxious for it to be over. I really feel like I need a vacation!! School's been a part-time job and really, with class time and homework and group meetings, a lot of hours are devoted to school each week. I procrastinate, too. I know, I know - it's not helping anything, but I convince myself that I get can.

In my procrastination, though, I've been productive with things that I probably shouldn't be productive with. For example, I have come up with a list of several lessons I've learned about being a part-time student. They may seem obvious, but I know that these are things I need to focus on more.

[One] Be sure to find out how much group work each class requires before enrolling. I have two classes that are heavy on it and that adds a lot of hours to my schedule. If possible, try to balance by having one that's heavy on group work and another that's not.

[Two] Really consider how the schedule arrangements for the class will affect you. Late classes really elongate a day, for example. On those days, I go to work in the morning, go from there to the library, from there to a tutoring session, and then to class. By the time I get home, it's near 10.30. That brings me to...

[Three]  Take advantage of tutors! Ah, no! I mean, take advantage of their services! Having one is extremely helpful and also relieves a lot of stress. See if your class has one!

[Four]  Also, think about when you'd do homework for the classes. I guess this goes with [Two] but remember it! Homework takes a lot of time! Something that I forgot from undergrad was how misleading syllabi can be. Just because nothing written is required for every class does not mean that the work or reading will be quick.

[Five]  Remember your personal life! Part of finding balance is leaving time for yourself and doing things important to you outside of school or work.

Chapter Three: MBA 600

This past weekend I experienced the very heavy, but very fun MBA 600 class. It was quite the experience, so let me tell you about it.

I have to mention that MBA 600 is one of the classes that caused me a great deal of stress in the weeks before school actually started. It was for that class that one of those giant packets of reading zoomed through my door. The instructions in that packet were basically to read the memos from Foodcorp, a fictional firm, and then be prepared to run it.

Run the company!!?? I hadn't even started business school! I wondered how in the world I would be in any position to run a company after only two weeks. I read through the packets before the weekend started and got an idea of what Foodcorp was all about, but I still had no idea how I would be able to survive a leadership position in the company.

On Friday evening, when the event started, we got into our groups. Almost immediately we had to assume various executive positions based on Foodcorp's org chart. I've never been afraid to take on big tasks, but I was not comfortable being COO or a Senior Vice President, so I took on one of the lower-level VP roles as the VP of Sales and Marketing for the Frozen Foods division. Once we filled in the blanks so that everyone had a role, a "reporter" from Business Week came while "researching for an article."

Thank god that we only chose to have 2 representatives from the group speak to the "reporter" (aka Prof. Barretti)! He tore them apart! His questions were tough and none of us were prepared for that. But, our group's representatives handled it very well and I give them much credit. That experience did tell us, though, that MBA 600 was going to be serious.

We left Friday evening with a new set of memos that corresponded to the positions we took on. And, on Saturday morning, as soon as we convened, we had even more memos to peruse. Once we all had read everything, it was time to run the company.

Rules to running the company were, for the most part, non-existent. We had to do whatever we had to do to develop priorities and contribute to Foodcorp's success. For the sake of disclosure, I won't reveal too much, but in the end, our group operated fantastically and it is my opinion that our decisions were well developed and necessary. We all agreed that we would have done things differently if we could do it again, but wouldn't that be true no matter what went down?

All in all, I enjoyed MBA 600. Remember, I was stressed going into it. The packets were intimidating and, on top of that, I work in Financial Services and it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing over the past couple of weeks. At the very least, it allowed me to put my attention elsewhere. I'm not sure that money-wise the course was worth what we paid for the credit or credit and a half, but I might also argue that experiences like those are invaluable and that developing team skills and building contacts like that is something onto which a price tag cannot be affixed. I'm glad I had the opportunity.

Actually, the class is not over. We still have a Career Development Plan to write and even another class meeting in October. Having finished the main part of the course, though, I feel like a real MBA student. It was like an initiation ritual and I passed. 

Chapter Two: The Dust Settles

Tonight, finally, I sat down in my favorite chair and felt like a student again. School started what? - 2 weeks ago - and only now has the sensation actually overcome me. Truly, I'm glad that I feel this way. It's just - well, I'm not sure if I expected it to take more time or even less. I expected a transition period, but I didn't think of how long it would last. Definitely, though, going into the school year so suddenly made the 2 weeks seem like a very long time.

My first day fiasco built up momentum that really just didn't stop, but really, it only got better. I went to the MBA Programs Orientation and really enjoyed the program they put on. I got to know many of my fellow MBA classmates through some fun and creative activities  [I still think the Egg-celsior was the best!] and even ran into somebody I went to undergrad with! She and I were actually senators in the Student Government Association (I think). Then, early the next morning I showed up for GMBA 601.

GMBA 601 was fascinating. Our morning sessions were by Dr. Annabel Beerel, an amazing and, yes, mysterious scholar. She went to the Weston Theological Seminary for a Masters and to BU for a doctorate in religious studies and social ethics and before all that she got her MBA from some school in London. Throughout the morning she encouraged us to confront "new realities," or changes, and endeavored to have us evaluate the feelings that result from them. My feelings, our feelings, their feelings - understanding everyone's feelings is a strong way to develop our emotional intelligence and succeed as a businessperson. By midday she finished and then it was Dr. Behnam's turn to get us to debate globalization. We were pre-assigned groups and I was in the Contra-Globalization crew. We met, came up with reasons to make globalization look evil, and then showed a PowerPoint and debated the point. Looking back, the globalization exercise was all right, but definitely not excellent. After having been encouraged to think outside of the box all morning, we were dropped into a very tired debate. It was fun and I got to collaborate with wonderful people, but all-in-all it was just a bit disorganized.

And that was just one weekend! On either side of that were classes (group presentation included), problems to sort through at work, homework (oh! the homework), and my first wedding experience. There's hardly been a break. Now, finally, after a train from Rochester to Albany and a [very delayed] bus from there to Boston, I'm home, relaxed, and a student. I'm in the groove now and understand how to cope with studenthood's new realities. I've worked out a homework schedule - sort of -  and even have an Accounting group all assembled. What a relief to actually be ready for the semester!

Chapter One: Are the professors unprepared or is it me?

During childhood going back to school was always emotional. There was excitement about seeing old friends, nervousness in meeting new teachers, confidence from wearing new clothes, and even disappointment of the summer's inevitable, but abrupt end. I haven't experienced any of these back-to-school emotions in over 2 years and, now that school's here, what I feel most is fear.

All in all I feel like I've been readying myself well enough for the beginning of classes. Slowly -but surely- I've been reading the articles that made up those heavy packets and making notes in the margins and highlighting lines that might be helpful in our discussions. I've been checking Blackboard regularly and reading the announcements and perusing the syllabi that are posted on it. I went to a meet-and-greet social event and met some folks with whom I will share classes over the next couple of years. And, I frequently check my Suffolk email for updates.

An email I received today has really frightened me a lot. It was from Professor Wojdak, who will instruct MBA 640 - Financial and Managerial Accounting. RateMyProfessors.com gives him a decent review, although there are only a couple of entries about him. Mostly people like his perspective as a former CEO. The email he sent didn't make me feel so great about him though. You see, I expected his class to start next Tuesday, 9 September but now, after reading his email, I know that it starts tomorrow. I'm not overly excited about this class in the first place. Not being a finance person at all is one reason and everything I already know about accounting (which is very little, I admit) bores me to sleep. But, it's a core class, so what can I do?

Past communications from Pr. Wojdak indicated that the class was supposed to start next week. Truthfully, because of that, it's been on the back burner. I've been more concerned with Orientation and the class I have this weekend for which I've been doing so much reading. Now, though, I'm literally losing sleep over this news from Pr. Wojdak. So many things about it upset me. One, the email was sent one day in advance. Two, I just ordered the book online last week and it hasn't arrived yet and there are already assigned readings due tomorrow. Three, since the class is at 430p, I made special arrangements at work to leave early on Tuesdays to be there on time but those arrangements aren't in effect until next week. Maybe I'm getting too worked up over little things, but these little things are stealing my sleep and hurting my head and making me write several consecutive run-on sentences. And why - why?! - does a class start before I even have Orientation?

So what do I do about it? I think there's only one thing to do. I have to take control of the situation. I'll go to the library early tomorrow and photocopy any pages from the textbook that I'm supposed to read. I'll explain the story to my manager and beg that I be released from work early. And then, I'll go to class, take notes, listen, whatever, and come home. Easy. I think.

I still have much to do for my class this weekend too. Right now I'm just taking everything one step at a time. It will be OK. Being scared is OK. I just wasn't prepared to deal with my professors' unpreparedness.

Maybe I just need to buy some back to school clothes to give myself a boost of confidence.

The Tale Begins

PRELUDE

I'm getting envelopes in the mail full of announcements and assignments and frankly - they're making my head spin! Ahh! I just graduated from college two years ago, I got a real job, and I was finally starting to get comfortable in this "working" /"real" world. Then - BAM! These envelopes flew through my door with such tremendous force that they nearly put a hole right through it. They hit me so hard that I'm seeing stars. Everything is happening wicked fast and now - - - I'm. Freaking. Out. School's back and I'm not sure that I'm ready.

So I guess this is where the tale begins. "Tale" is a good word for what I'll be writing. Somehow, even if just a little, the word "tale" fictionalizes my experiences. Coming from a background of languages and humanities, B-School is going to be difficult, emotional, draining, confusing, and maybe even upsetting. And certainly there will be moments of joy, enlightenment, and accomplishment, too. Stepping back and reflecting on my adventures and emotions as though they were all part of a story will allow me to divorce myself from the chaos I'm sure to face. (Did I mention I'll only be a part-time student?) I may embellish a bit, I may use some hyperbole, and hell, I might just make some stories up. Whatever I write though, this tale will be based on truth and the emotions that I, the protagonist, feel.

Get ready, Suffolk! Here I come!