It is the best when I am able to take a break from it all and go to...say...Mardi Gras!!!
In Louisiana everyone gets an entire week off to celebrate what is meant a religious preparation for Easter. So, yes, I too took an week off from school, right before midterms to go back to New Orleans!!!
OMG...to get away from WMU and Kzoo with all of its snow was the greatest. Since I am so used to the highways, the two and a half hour drive to fly out of Chicago did not bother me one bit. Arriving at the airport, the trip started out right as I saw two guys I went to high school with in Vallejo, California - such a small world. It was too funny - they were actually trying to holla at me, and then did a double take and they said "don't I know you?" LOL
Upon boarding the plane and taking off, the drinks were pouring! So many people were ordering and the flight attendants were bringing the alcoholic beverages like folks were asking for coke and water, LOL. Setting foot in New Orleans, OMG, you could smell the liquor in baggage claim - I had not even mad it out of the airport yet!
Yes, the week was off to a great start. I ate good, went to parades, saw old faces, and of course partied hard (I saw a guy that I went to elementary/church with in Oakland, California chilling at one of the parades)! The sun shone so bright that I forgot all about the freezing snow that was falling in Kalamazoo and I tanned beautifully. And even though I was back in the NO once again, I still experienced some FIRSTS!
Mardi Gras is so much fun, I am not even going to try to explain everything there is to do...you guys go and experience for yourselves!
The day before it was time to head back to Kzoo :( I spent the whole day sitting in the sun! I guess I was trying to soak up as many rays as possible LOL. Actually, I was reading a book for class by the pool. I got teased so bad! Folks said, "look at you Esther, how are you going to study after partying the entire week?!" But yall know I don't pay folks too much mind. We laughed I kept reading.
At the end of Mardi Gras (hated to see the festivities end), I flew back and spent the night in Chicago. To close out my vacation, I went out to eat, met some guys, and went shopping. School mates called to say 'be careful' and that there was a terrible snow storm in Kzoo. I clearly did not heed the word because I did not leave Chi until around 6:00 pm. Sure enough, driving into Kzoo was so bad I considered pulling off the highway and getting another hotel room. But, I decided against that. I figured, as long as I could see cars in front of me, I would be alright. Needless to say, I made it back safely - thank goodness.
I got back to my Kzoo home on Sunday and my midterm was that very week - covering the entire book that I had read in one day! Got an "A" on the exam too!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
ABSTRACT!
Honestly, I was not ever the person knowing what she wanted to be when she grew up. Someone once told me that I needed to go to Los Angeles and "find myself," LOL. To figure out exactly what I wanted to do...what I wanted to be when I grew up. Yeah, I still do not know!
There is just so much to experience, who would want to stick with just one thing?! So, that being my personality, I would study whenever, wherever. Or at times when I actually tried to focus and study, I would get peer pressured into enjoying Kzoo's night life! Good times!
But, honestly, studying has not been my #1 priority since Vallejo Junior High. I have come to accept that my mind will forever be consumed with the concept of MONEY. How to get it, save it, invest it, increase it, spend it! So, of course I had to get on that good job hunt.
If I would have known how horrible Kzoo's job market was, I definitely would have considered other institutions. I went on sooooooo many interviews. Employers would say that I was either under- or under-qualified. FRUSTRATING. I applied to Stryker, Hooters, Bank of America, Comerica Leadership Program, dude, the list goes on and on. Some job positions would be misleading, and had me on a goose chase (selling Kirby vacuum cleaners LOL). The things I have done!
At times I thought great opportunities were facing but then would end up falling through. One day I was so irritated...it was crazy...a bunch of folks ended up going out with me to drink and party away the frustation (did yall even know what was going on...LOL...probably not...folks just like to party for whatever reason!). Lesson learned...it is not fun to get wasted when you are trying.
But it is the best when...
There is just so much to experience, who would want to stick with just one thing?! So, that being my personality, I would study whenever, wherever. Or at times when I actually tried to focus and study, I would get peer pressured into enjoying Kzoo's night life! Good times!
But, honestly, studying has not been my #1 priority since Vallejo Junior High. I have come to accept that my mind will forever be consumed with the concept of MONEY. How to get it, save it, invest it, increase it, spend it! So, of course I had to get on that good job hunt.
If I would have known how horrible Kzoo's job market was, I definitely would have considered other institutions. I went on sooooooo many interviews. Employers would say that I was either under- or under-qualified. FRUSTRATING. I applied to Stryker, Hooters, Bank of America, Comerica Leadership Program, dude, the list goes on and on. Some job positions would be misleading, and had me on a goose chase (selling Kirby vacuum cleaners LOL). The things I have done!
At times I thought great opportunities were facing but then would end up falling through. One day I was so irritated...it was crazy...a bunch of folks ended up going out with me to drink and party away the frustation (did yall even know what was going on...LOL...probably not...folks just like to party for whatever reason!). Lesson learned...it is not fun to get wasted when you are trying.
But it is the best when...
Sunday, December 21, 2008
THE BEGINNING!
A Bay Area, California native, I have also lived in New Orleans, LA, Arlington, TX, back to New Orleans, LA and now Kalamazoo, MI. People say that my story is excitedly exhausting, but I have barely put a dent in my wish list!
Attending undergrad in New Orleans, the day of the grad school fair, I had another engagement that ended up getting cancelled. Moments before take-off, I was invited to the fair. Of course it is evident that Western Michigan University was the most intriguing!
After showing interest, I was invited to the 1st HBCU Visitation Weekend hosted by the Graduate College and upon arrival was notified that I was accepted into the MBA Program!!! That clearly made my weekend - though I did not officially celebrate until my spring break trip in Philadelphia a couple of weeks later (my birthday was also during this week - you guys know I love celebrating)!!!
I began WMU in July of 2007.
The first thing I noticed was that, though our classes consisted of tons of group work, it was very difficult to establish relationships outside of the classroom! Frustrated that 1) I had no connection with my new peers and 2) I missed my steady undergrad study group - the few brave students who undertook Econ and Finance and went through our junior and senior year together - it also sucked that we did not have a cohort like I had heard other programs had established.
Thank goodness for the Graduate College and the Haworth College of Business' administration to help me get through the times I felt alone while I was on campus. However, off campus, I made connections with those from other departments!
With the students I met early on, we went to the movies, concerts, comedy shows, museums, birthday parties, eating, drinking, dancing, drinking, and dancing together!
Memories from the start of the program was going to Milwauke, WI for a black-and-white bday party, and Keyshia Cole's concert at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL (and was surprised to see an old friend - an added bonus) all in one weekend! Travel, hotel stays, limos, champaign - the best!
So, you may be wondering - when did I actually do any studying? How was I able to focus on my scool work?...
Attending undergrad in New Orleans, the day of the grad school fair, I had another engagement that ended up getting cancelled. Moments before take-off, I was invited to the fair. Of course it is evident that Western Michigan University was the most intriguing!
After showing interest, I was invited to the 1st HBCU Visitation Weekend hosted by the Graduate College and upon arrival was notified that I was accepted into the MBA Program!!! That clearly made my weekend - though I did not officially celebrate until my spring break trip in Philadelphia a couple of weeks later (my birthday was also during this week - you guys know I love celebrating)!!!
I began WMU in July of 2007.
The first thing I noticed was that, though our classes consisted of tons of group work, it was very difficult to establish relationships outside of the classroom! Frustrated that 1) I had no connection with my new peers and 2) I missed my steady undergrad study group - the few brave students who undertook Econ and Finance and went through our junior and senior year together - it also sucked that we did not have a cohort like I had heard other programs had established.
Thank goodness for the Graduate College and the Haworth College of Business' administration to help me get through the times I felt alone while I was on campus. However, off campus, I made connections with those from other departments!
With the students I met early on, we went to the movies, concerts, comedy shows, museums, birthday parties, eating, drinking, dancing, drinking, and dancing together!
Memories from the start of the program was going to Milwauke, WI for a black-and-white bday party, and Keyshia Cole's concert at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL (and was surprised to see an old friend - an added bonus) all in one weekend! Travel, hotel stays, limos, champaign - the best!
So, you may be wondering - when did I actually do any studying? How was I able to focus on my scool work?...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION COMPLETION!
OMG! As of December 3, 2008 @ 8-ish pm, my last final exam was completed and I was freed of ethical decision-making, international policies, finance and accounting situational problems, managerial changes, presentations, group work, term papers, and obscene study hours brought on by the Master of Business Administration Program at Western Michigan University!
EXCITED, ELATED, PROUD, IN AWE - these words barely express the feeling!!!
My peers and I have been celebrated since Thursday, December 4th where we started at Shakespeare's Pub, with the following being more celebratory events up to date
Friday, Dec. 5th Wayside (VIP)
Saturday, Dec. 6th Ain't Mis Behavin (play), actually this night was supposed to be Firehouse but snowy weather was so terrible!
Wednesday, Dec. 10th Blue Dolphin and Wildbull
Continuing on, tonight we have our graduation reception brought to us by our very own Haworth College of Business - and graduation is not even until Saturday, Dec. 13th!
The only reason why we started so late was because everyone was so tired! I feel like I am recuperating from this past year and a half!
Hold up, did she say 'year and a half?' As in, she finished the entire program in a year and a half?! Yep, I sure did...and NOTHING about that was easy.
But, I am way ahead of myself, I have jumped to the end.
The purpose of this blog is to get people to understand what graduate students endure. How at any one particular point in time, we can feel overwhelmed, happy, stressed, excited, scared, and/or fulfilled - but none of that matters when we are in the midst of completing the designed academic programs.
We pull resources and energy from out of nowhere in order to do what we gotta do! And every moment is a memory that will never be forgotten....here are some stories of graduate students who love, live, and laugh even through the hardships of higher education...
EXCITED, ELATED, PROUD, IN AWE - these words barely express the feeling!!!
My peers and I have been celebrated since Thursday, December 4th where we started at Shakespeare's Pub, with the following being more celebratory events up to date
Friday, Dec. 5th Wayside (VIP)
Saturday, Dec. 6th Ain't Mis Behavin (play), actually this night was supposed to be Firehouse but snowy weather was so terrible!
Wednesday, Dec. 10th Blue Dolphin and Wildbull
Continuing on, tonight we have our graduation reception brought to us by our very own Haworth College of Business - and graduation is not even until Saturday, Dec. 13th!
The only reason why we started so late was because everyone was so tired! I feel like I am recuperating from this past year and a half!
Hold up, did she say 'year and a half?' As in, she finished the entire program in a year and a half?! Yep, I sure did...and NOTHING about that was easy.
But, I am way ahead of myself, I have jumped to the end.
The purpose of this blog is to get people to understand what graduate students endure. How at any one particular point in time, we can feel overwhelmed, happy, stressed, excited, scared, and/or fulfilled - but none of that matters when we are in the midst of completing the designed academic programs.
We pull resources and energy from out of nowhere in order to do what we gotta do! And every moment is a memory that will never be forgotten....here are some stories of graduate students who love, live, and laugh even through the hardships of higher education...
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