As it’s now Memorial Day Weekend, almost exactly a year after I began this program, I thought I would take a look back at all the fun places that my textbooks have accompanied me:

• July 2012 – Virginia Beach, VA: I was accompanied by a stack of articles for Global Markets and Institutions class … these may or may not have come into contact with alcoholic beverages on the beach. Still readable though!
• September 2012 – Wrightsville Beach, NC: With my financial accounting textbook. I was on team calls about work-in-process inventory accounting in between family outings at the beach.
• November 2012 — Leesburg, VA: I was with my statistics course pack, studying in the kitchen while my mom made Thanksgiving dinner. I’m a great helper. I’m sure she really appreciated me just sitting there.
• January 2013 – Road trip to Toronto, Ontario: My backseat was full of Term 3 textbooks. My best friend decided to have her first child during the coldest month in Canada. So up I went to visit during a major snowstorm. I managed to read managerial accounting and marketing cases while holding her son Hudson, so she could nap. I’m still waiting on my friend-of-the-year award.
• February 2013 – Wintergreen, VA: The Term 3 marketing case came snowboarding with my boyfriend and me. It also came with us to the doctor the next day as we got an X-ray of Jon’s broken arm.
• May 2013 – Toronto, Ontario (take 2): Various electronic course articles on my iPad flew up with me for Memorial Day weekend. I’m spending another couple of days with my best friend and her son Hudson. Actually, I think I’ll inquire about my friend-of-the-year award while I’m up here …

And finally … a trip where my textbooks got left at home:

• March 2013 – San Juan, Puerto Rico: After I managed to take all of the Term 3 finals in the first four days of the exam block, I got a textbook free vacation … until I arrived home to find a box of Term 4 readings and books waiting for me on my porch.

So the plan is that there is no plan. You’ll have to take it one day at a time and make sure you reserve space in your carry on for your books!

Shortly after my arrival in Durham, I stumbled upon what was to become a Thursday night tradition with Max (a fellow classmate) — running into each other at Chipotle, each of us grabbing dinner to take with us back to the R. David Thomas Center (RDTC), which is where we live and study for the residencies. Then came the obstacle course of carrying my bookbag, suitcase, school laptop bag, work laptop bag and my treasured Chipotle from my car all the way through the lobby to my room. You might be wondering why I’m bringing this up … just wait until you have to do it for the first time. It’s a hike!

The night before the first class session (the first few days of the first residency were team building and introductions), I caught up on some work emails and got ready for my first official day of the program. The next day, the alarm went off at 6 am. The breakfast at the RDTC was a great start to the day (fresh fruit, bacon and eggs!), and then I was off to class. Class started promptly at 8 am, and I was excited to see what the day had in store for us. Some of you reading this blog may have sat in on a partial class during an open house visit, so you know that the day is full of discussions and interaction with the professor and other students. There are also lots of breaks between classes, with trips up to the snack room. It was a great way to try to learn more about each of the 80+ people I had just met.

Classes adjourned at 5 pm, and we then switched to the auditorium for the first of several guest speakers. I always appreciate the time that the guest speakers devote to coming to speak to us, and even though it’s at the end of a long day of classes, I get a second burst of energy and really enjoy their conversations with us. Then once the guest speaker presentation was over, it was back to the RDTC for dinner and more socializing with my classmates. For the first residency, the night went on quite a while with everyone hanging out on the patio and enjoying a beer or glass of wine. Some people stayed out late, others were more sensible knowing that we had to repeat this all again the next day.

Later the next afternoon, I reversed the hike from my room to my car, and started on my trip back to Richmond, Virginia. I no longer felt apprehensive of what was to come. I had survived my first residency. And I just needed to find a Starbuck’s for the ride home.

1. What value will an MBA provide?
2. Which program is right for me?
3. Why is now the right time?

Value of an MBA

I received undergraduate degrees in economics and finance, so the choice to pursue my MBA was a bit different than most prospective students, who are focusing on becoming more familiar with the analytical skills and theoretical concepts leveraged across the business world. As I have some familiarity in the foundational business courses from my undergraduate program, for me the value that an MBA offered was about taking time out of my day-to-day tasks to focus on refining and improving my leadership skills and big picture thinking. I would be remiss to not include the value that comes from broadening my professional and personal network. The backgrounds and experiences of those in my cohort provide a wealth of perspective and real world application of business problems. For those like me, who have been at the same company for their entire working life, this diversity of experience and thought process has been instrumental in improving my big picture thinking of how to handle business problems.

Why Fuqua?

Fuqua was a great fit for me for a couple reasons. First and foremost, they are known for their focus on global leadership, which aligned perfectly with my goals for professional growth. In addition, Duke’s brand is well respected and Fuqua is consistently ranked among the top programs in the country. In addition, and more from a personal perspective, Duke’s proximity to Richmond enables me to drive back and forth to the program for each residency, which provides me with added flexibility around my hectic work schedule.

And Why Now?

I asked myself “Doesn’t the stress of working full time and taking a full course load sound like a better thing to do next year?” For me, the answer to why now was a mix of convenience and the ability to jump back into the classroom without much disruption to my life. I am unmarried and do not yet have a family of my own, which provides me with quite a bit more free time than others in the program who are juggling demands from work, school and family. Being early in my career, I can put the skills and practice of what I have learned to good use for years to come. There’s always a reason to push this important decision out. For those who are making the “next year” excuse — you are missing out on a great experience that has already had a profound impact on me in the short time I have been in the program.