Essay
Sixteen Months In, I Realized It Was Never Just the Degree
From an awkward first meeting at Topgolf to a village built through study groups, finance quarters, and late nights, an MBA reflection sixteen months in.
They say an MBA is about the degree. It is not. Sixteen months in, I've realized it's about something else entirely.
It started before classes even kicked off, meeting at Topgolf. A little awkward, a little excited, not knowing those faces would soon become familiar names across multiple WhatsApp groups. Somewhere along the way, "quick chats" stopped being quick.
Then came the first study groups, tailgates, long class weekends and even longer nights, a finance quarter that tested sleep, patience, and optimism, and forming capstone teams, realizing we're in the final stretch.
Luskin became our regular meeting spot, not just for class, but for check-ins, catch-ups, and conversations that went beyond the agenda. One finance lesson that will stay with me: aim for "high alpha, low beta", focus on what you can truly control, and don't let the noise throw you off course.
But beyond the academics, something deeper happened. We grew, personally, not just professionally. Friendships formed that don't feel time-bound, the kind where you check if a classmate is nearby when you travel, or reach out just to catch up, not because you need help, but because you care.
Someone once said it takes a village. Somehow, we built one. A village you can return to, for support, laughter, or simply to feel understood.
Sixteen months in, I know it was never just about the degree. It was about the village we built and the one we carry forward.
