What I Made Room for During Fall Break

I love travelling, and having visited 16 states in the U.S., I was tempted to use fall break to explore somewhere new, especially as some of my classmates were planning a hiking trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. But after a demanding first block of my second MBA year, I realized I needed something else: time to slow down and reset.

Between academics, helping students prepare for case interviews, planning events for the Fisher Black MBA Association, and developing my treasury skills, my schedule had been full. I had also challenged myself with courses outside my comfort zone, including real estate, which required more research than I expected. I enjoyed the learning, but I was ready to catch my breath.

Although fall break officially ran from Thursday to Friday, I got an early start on Wednesday by attending the industry track at the Ohio AI Business Conference, where discussions covered the responsible use of AI, its adoption in the workplace, and real-life examples of how organizations are using it.

I also attended the inaugural meeting for my new venture fellowship at Ohio State Early Investor Network. I am excited about the opportunity to learn more about evaluating businesses and connecting founders with investors. But I wanted my break to include more than professional development.

I spent time reflecting on the first block, catching up with my family, taking walks, and checking in with the Fisher Black MBA Association executive board. One lesson from my leadership class that I have been trying to apply is that leadership is not just about getting work done. It is also about building relationships and checking in on the people you work with, even when there is no task to discuss.

By Friday, I was reviewing my upcoming syllabi and planning for the next block. I wanted to be more intentional about balancing academics, leadership, professional development, giving back, and rest.

An MBA program offers so many opportunities that it can be tempting to say yes to everything, especially when everything feels important. But spreading yourself too thin can affect your productivity and your ability to be present and add value to yourself and others. Learning to manage your time, prioritize what matters, and give yourself room to rest will take you a long way.

Now that fall break is over, I feel refreshed, with more structure for managing my commitments and a renewed perspective on the journey ahead.