Happy Thanksgiving

If only turkeys could be this lucky!!!!

I won't bore you today on this American tradition. I want to wish my audience a Happy Thanksgiving.  Last year this time I was in a food coma; however this year I am furiously trying to complete group projects. Also, this year's Thanksgiving "spread" includes my favorite food: SUSHI!!!!! So I am super thankful.

I do want to say that I am thankful for everyone who is a loyal follower to this blog. In addition, I am thankful for the Belk College of Business' support throughout my three months here at UNC Charlotte and in the Charlotte area.

Don't forget to count your blessing and say "Thank You" whenever you can. Do not judge those who are less unfortunate because at any moment everything is important to you can be taken away from you. My heart goes out to those who enduring hardships over the holiday season. Keep your head up and maintain a positive attitude and things will turn. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!!!

Giving Back

I strongly believe that our duty here on this earth is not only to take care of it (GO GREEN!) but also to give back to the community.  The idea of assisting my community whether it is participating in a school supply drive or preparing dinner for families at the Ronald McDonald House, I am making an impact. I know for me sometimes, I get caught up in the size of my contribution. i.e. only if I do something "GRAND" will it make an impact on an organization or individual but this is far from the case.

This week, I assisted Hands On Charlotte sorting clothing for the Crisis Assistance Ministry store.  This was my first time and I enjoyed the opportunity to interact with individuals throughout the Charlotte community while preparing items for the Ministry's store. Afterwards, I left with a sense of accomplishment. I knew that my help in the long run would help an individual by providing them with the necessary clothing for a job interview, cold weather, etc.

This year, UNC Charlotte's Graduate Business Association adopted two local Charlotte children as a part of the Salvation Army Angel program.  This is one of my favorite holiday projects. When I was younger, my family would participate in our church's annual angel tree program. We would have a blast shopping for newborns to children who were my age at the time. I've always wanted to see the children's faces when they open their gifts...but I have an idea it included a BIG SMILE.

In addition to the two children, GBA created a Kiva community team. A couple of months, I was introduced to the micro-finance concept and Kiva. For those who are unfamiliar with this concept, you, the lender, can provide a loan to an entrepreneur of your choice throughout the world. The loan can be as small as $25. Once the entrepreneur repays the loan you can take the amount and re-lend. It is a cycle that just keeps giving. After learning about this concept from UNC Charlotte's Director of Graduate Student Service, I immediately latched on. The idea that with $25 I can help businesses throughout the world is amazing to me. Not only do you help someone from an economic standpoint but also from a social aspect. Providing these loans empowers the individuals to continue to pursue their entrepreneurial goals and presents them as a positive example in his/her community.

 If you would like to learn more I strongly suggest you read "The Blue Sweater" by Jacqueline Novagratiz. (See link under Reading List for more details)

If you are interested in participating in GBA's holiday initiative contact mba@uncc.edu.

Have a nice weekend!!!!

Go 49ers

Tomorrow afternoon is game day!!! UNC Charlotte will host Gardner-Webb at 4pm in the Halton Arena. Not only is it the season opener but it is also the first game for our new Men's basketball head coach, Alan Major!!!

I must admit I get an adrenaline rush just thinking about NCAA Basketball.   It is rather ironic that my undergraduate Alma Mater and my graduate institution play in the same league...It will be tough decision come game day. 

Come out and support the Green and Gold!!!! It will be an awesome season.

Who has YOUR back?

What I have learned this week is the value of my support system. When deciding two years ago that I wanted to pursue my MBA degree in the upcoming years, I received extreme encouragement from my family members and closest friends. Through the strenuous GMAT studying period and the $250 check cashing (scheduling the GMAT) period came once again my anxiety levels were relieved by my support system. When it came time to choose which university I would attend to complete my Master in Business Administration degree I did not seek out my support system. *gasp*

I know you might have a question mark on your face. No I did not consult my "usual" support group when it came time to for me to make my final decision. Instead, I contacted the graduate programs contact at each school. These individuals did not know me beyond my online application but that did not stop me. I wanted to know if the university was truly dedicated to their students. Some of the questions I pondered were: "Do they (the business departments) merely view students as a revenue stream and are the faculty just for a paycheck?" This was an important question to me based on past experiences. Let's be realistic, times are tough. From my work in the corporate world, I've observed individuals attitudes change. No longer are individuals dedicated to going above and beyond but have adopted a " I will only perform what is in my job description." With this said, I wanted to know if the university's faculty would be willing to go above and beyond or at least adopt a 'Can do attitude" to assist their students as best as they can. Well I received my answer at UNC Charlotte.

In recent weeks, a fellow classmate and I were talking about the business school in general and our prior academic experiences. Once again this topic came up with mutual agreement. Chad Miller is an MBA candidate like myself who I wanted to share his thoughts in my blog.

I am continuously impressed with UNC Charlotte's faculty and staff. The faculty and staff dedication is apparent not just on paper but in their actions. UNC Charlotte's staff will do the best they can with any situation to assist a student in their respective endeavors. From my encounters, the faculty continue to have a positive attitude even though some of my questions do not have immediate "yes" or "no" responses. I truly feel comfortable contacting the Belk College of Business faculty and or staff which is something I was not able to do as easily in prior years. (I promise that this is not scripted a)

My point in all of this is to seek out a support system in every step in your life. In less than 4 months of me being in the MBA program, I have a mentor and a network of faculty that I can consult to assist me over the next two years. These individuals continue to make my time here Can you say that about your current environment?




Just something to think about. Have a nice weekend!