Less than 60 days ago, I anxiously sat in front of my computer screen to write my first ever post to introduce myself to my cohort. It had just slinked in that I was going to be part of a one-of-a-kind, outstanding group of individuals from all over the world. As I scrolled through reading all the introductory posts that my cohort had made many months prior, at that moment I knew that I was part of something far greater than I had ever imagined.
My decision to come to Ivey came after months and months of deep self-reflection. What was this new opportunity that I just randomly came across? Could I see myself transitioning and fully immersing myself into the world of business after spending the past 5 years studying Political Science & Public Policy, working in the public sector? Personally, I have always struggled with impatience and the desire to constantly predict every single aspect of my future. I agree that this is an admirable quality for anyone to have but it comes with a lot of anxiety.
As I wrapped up my research about the MSc program at Ivey and submitted my application, I had an epiphany. Suddenly, “coincidentally” coming across the program was not a “coincidence” anymore, it was me. It was exactly what I had been looking for without actively looking for it. I found myself and I found the one graduate degree that complemented both my life’s experiences and my ideal career aspirations. Before applying, the only thing I was actively looking for were ways to accelerate my self-development and after 60 days of being in the MSc International Business CEMS MIM stream I can confidently say that I have gained this and even more. Gradually, as we are now moving into the second half of our first semester, I have started to see just how relevant and valuable my previous skills are, and I am growing to appreciate my previous experiences more each day.
Ivey has been a self-transformational journey! This journey began from my very first zoom class and has continued throughout the MSc program’s transition to in person learning. The amount of learning that takes place in each of our sessions is unbelievable. Ivey’s active approach to creating engagement in the classroom has had the most impact on my learning experience. A large portion of my learning over the last 60 days has come from our classroom discussions on cases. Constantly hearing so many different perspectives and answers to business challenges makes the classroom experience very real and current with the business world.
Despite all the learning curve challenges in January, adjusting to the flow of information, and getting adjusted to the class schedules, having an incredible network of students and resources to reach out to has been so helpful in overcoming all those challenges. For a cohort of roughly 82 students, the networking opportunities have allowed so many of us to grow and bond as one big Ivey family. The Career Management team at Ivey has also had a significant impact on my journey over the last 60 days. Career Management holistically pushes you to look within yourself, to focus on your development first, build a solid understanding of who you are and your unique talents, to be the best version of yourself for your dream career.
To the anxious incoming student reading this post and feeling very relatable, I would like to share a few words of advice. Do not allow fear and anxiety to hold you back from experiencing the life-changing journey that the Ivey community will offer you. Ivey offers such a unique, warm, and engaged community that you will never feel alone on your journey. I am personally open to answering all your questions about the Ivey experience and I would love so much to be part of your journey the same way that others have offered me guidance that has gotten me here today.