Finally, I’ve completed my first year of my MBA. The first 3 months in the U.S. were so so so slow for me, but now I’m starting to feel that the rest of the year won’t be enough. Someone once told me: when you feel that time flies so fast, this is the signal that you already belong to it.
However, belonging didn’t come easily. To own it, I had to face self-doubt, low self-esteem, lowered expectations, and unfamiliar challenges.
Almost gave up, but never did.
And because of all the processes, I learned to adjust. I learned to adapt. I learned to be open. I learned to stop assuming and start asking. I learned to trust myself. These are the lessons I wouldn’t have learned if I hadn’t changed environment and done something bigger than myself.
There are so many reflections worth noting, to celebrate this milestone and remind myself how far I’ve come from who I was before the MBA.
Because I’m Fuqua class of 2027, here are 27 points I learned during my 1st year of MBA.
1.Set a game plan before meetings to keep them efficient. “What’s our strategy to finish this project?”
2.Trust your own work first, others will follow. Celebrate yourself and your team often. “we are great!”
3.Say what you think. Don’t just keep it in your head.
4.Frameworks make communication easier. Just don’t let them box in your creativity.
5.Nothing’s lost by reaching out for help or a connection. Just do it, and let the outcome be what it is.
6.Share your story. Let people see the impact you can make, and how you can help.
7.Managing your schedule and time is step one of productivity.
8.No question is silly, and answer generously when others ask you.
9.Preparation before discussions, class, everything is the real secret to efficiency. Be prepared.
10.A good presentation always wins. Practice articulating your ideas.
11.People only speak up when they understand what you’re saying, otherwise, they stay quiet.
12.Not knowing a language closes every door.
13.Be open to new relationships, but prepare for when they don’t turn out as expected.
14.Not everyone will become a close friend because the meaning of friendship varies by culture. But goodwill and support are things we can always offer each other.
15.If you’re introverted, don’t only chase deep connections. Stay open to every level of relationship.
16.Don’t trust too easily, not everyone is the same.
17.Be decisive. Life gets easier when you state your needs clearly, but stay respectful of others too.
18.Live freely and enjoy life. What others think of you doesn’t matter.
19.Investing time to understand a culture is the most worthwhile investment. You can’t truly grasp it without experiencing it yourself, and AI can’t do that for you. It’s okay to not really understand every culture, but you can always respect the differences.
20.Building a strong connection starts with understanding the other person’s culture.
21.Hands-on action is the best way to build confidence.
22.Don’t fool yourself with words like “I can’t.” We can. Never give up.
23.Cooking isn’t as hard as you think, and a house party always feels warm.
24.Don’t compare your life to others. Stick to your own goals.
25.Be kind to people. Life is short.
26.Time is our most precious asset, who and what we give it to reveals what truly matters.
27.We doubt ourselves from time to time. But eventually, we either find the answer or forget the question. Trust yourself and hang in there.
I feel grateful to be here
to learn something I once thought I couldn’t do,
to face my fears and revive my confidence,
to meet people from different cultures and create special memories together,
to explore the world and see what impact I can make.
One more year to go,
and I’ll keep growing here in the U.S.
like a kid. 