Caveat: This describes a day in the life of a second year MBA student. A first year MBA I'm sure will beg to disagree, especially Darden first years who know that life in the Darden bubble ain't a bed of roses. But hey, here's your light at the end of the tunnel...
Today is a somewhat cloudy day in an otherwise beautiful spring season in Charlottesville, VA. The almost 10-minute walk to school from my apartment at Ivy Gardens is pleasant enough with always a familiar face from a classmate or schoolmate to greet you on the road.
The first sight of Darden--the Darden parking lot, one I don't usually use since I walk to school anyway. I say it's good exercise but truth be told, I'm not a fan of the parking fee. Winter is a different story though.
The (beautiful) hallway before entering the school and a short stop at one of the learning team rooms to print out the day's homework. (Gotta maximize my materials fee or maybe I'm just lazy to buy printer ink.)
I have two classes today. In my second class (Digital Marketing), we have a speaker who spoke to us about the merits of mobile commerce and how it is different and similar with e-commerce. We are after all, moving towards the mobile technology era. But then again, technology is moving so fast, one wonders if mobile will still be around some years from now..
This is the one class I don't mind being cold-called. I love learning about technology and of course how digital marketing is re-shaping the marketing world. Now if only I had the same passion about my finance class' topic on shareholder activism..
I stop for a cup of tea in between classes and see there's a small Earth week exhibit in the Pepsico forum.
Note to self: Use reusable mugs and bottles. Remember how those 'save the polar bear' ads always give you a lump in the throat.
The clock strikes 1:10pm and it is--freedom!!! Oh wait, I have that group meeting for our final project presentation in my Experience Economy class. Surely it won't take more than an hour.
Alas, leave it to six MBAs to complicate a simple enough project that ends up in an argument about which photo is good enough to put in the powerpoint presentation (Hint: It involved the lovely Paris Hilton). But heck, I'll still miss these guys..
The real freedom begins! Some sights to enjoy before driving to Glenmore country club for golf lessons.
Ah, nature's splendor. Who wouldn't be awed by this expansive (and expensive) beauty?
Some women in my class and I have signed up for weekly golf lessons to try to master this thing they call the language of business (and I was taught it was Accounting!).
My hands always hurt after the sessions but I don't mind the view at all.
After golf lessons is done, I drive back and since beach week is a few weeks away, I try to burn those cupcake fat I've been guiltily devouring by playing some squash at the UVA North Grounds gym. It's a crazy game that gets me high and low in such a short period of time. Seriously, if walls could talk...
Note to self: Stick to badminton. It's Asian, you're Asian. 'Nuf said.
So there you go. Second year MBAs do get to enjoy life a little bit more before going back to the real world. And remember, weekends are even fun-er!
