Your New Life Will Cost Your Old One: A Reflection on Change and Learning about Yourself

This semester is my last one as a student at Ohio State. I attended undergraduate here and pursued my Master's in Human Resources immediately. Attending The Ohio State University will forever be the greatest decision I have ever made. With school ending for me for the short-term future, (yes, I plan on getting my MBA later!), and my career with PepsiCo taking off in January, I wanted to reflect on how much I have grown throughout the past year and a half, and how OSU's MHRM program has taught me so much about myself both personally and professionally. 

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Home is where my heart is, and I have been yearning to go back and spend the rest of my life there, ever since I moved into Ohio State freshmen year. I learned this past summer and through my classes with the graduate school program, though that I do not want to spend the rest of my life in California anymore. 

My time at Ohio State and in my internship with PepsiCo taught me a few crucial things about myself:

1. I love to travel, and I can thrive in any environment. I am adaptable, and I love the challenge of meeting new people, exploring new areas, and settling into new routines. I learned coming to Ohio State not knowing anyone yet still adapting with ease that I can make the most out of any setting and thrive in any environment. I also love to travel and always have. These two things opened my eyes to being 100% mobile in my career, and embracing where the wind takes me!
2. I have a genuine passion for Human Resources. I have genuinely found each course enlightening and enjoyable. Furthermore, I was able to apply what was learned in the curriculum to my internship. One major lesson that sticks out to me is Kotter's 8 steps for change management, which Professor Lawrence Inks taught me. I used Kotter's Change Model to gain buy-in from site leadership to apply my suggestions to transform the New Employee Orientation at the production site I was at. To this day, my project is being carried out at the site!

3. My career fuels my purpose, and I am putting that first. My purpose is to help people through HR management. I want to instill a positive employee experience and aid in making strategic business decisions as a business partner. I have always been school and career-driven, but my internship with PepsiCo has taught me that not only am I driven--but the work I am doing fuels my passion for helping people. Due to my hard work ethic, and my purpose aligning with my career, I am putting my career as a top priority for me. 

   My experiences as an Ohio State undergrad, grad student, and PepsiCo intern have fundamentally shaped me into who I am today and who I will be moving forward. I cannot wait to see what great things I accomplish upon graduation and beginning my career as a Human Resources Representative for PepsiCo. Forward and onward!