Jumping into the Full Time MBA World!
I’m a 33-year-old (balding) dad of two young kids with 10 years of non-profit work experience. How do I fit in at business school?
That was the gut-wrenching question in the back of my head as I entered into Fisher’s 1st year MBA pre-term program just one month ago. Little did I know that most of my peers were asking similar questions about their own identity and status.
It’s no secret that leaving your job as a budding young professional to pursue a degree will cause you to evaluate your identity. We have left behind our previous jobs, social networks, and, in many cases, even family to live in Columbus and immerse ourselves in a world of academic, career, and personal growth. While my first day jitters have subsided, it’s that very process of wrestling with issues of identity that I believe contributes to such a powerful experience here at Fisher. When else in my adult life will I have another opportunity to jump a different direction in my career trajectory, and remove myself from my comfort zone for 20 months in order to learn, grow, and develop as a person and a professional.
From my experience so far at Fisher and Ohio State, I’m so grateful for how our resources are pointed towards my personal (and our communal) growth, development, learning, and future career placement. This university is vast and it’s set up to help many thrive. From working with career management to tell my story and clarify my career direction, to networking among other MBAs and learning how they are wrestling with their identities, to reading case studies and engaging in class content that relates to my previous work experience and challenges my paradigms, it is nothing short of awesome to be a part of this program! I’m one of many students here who is utilizing the MBA experience to shift career directions, know myself better, and have a great time doing it.
In the end, I’m thankful to be a 33-year-old balding dad with unique experience to bring to the table here. Besides, balding gives you wisdom, right?