While getting into Fuqua was a milestone, it was just the beginning. After years of detours, doubts, and delays, I had finally said yes to a long-held dream, but I was quickly reminded that dreaming and doing are two very different things. Since joining the Weekend Executive MBA program, this experience has stretched me in every way, providing one of the most fulfilling and demanding seasons of my life.

Gaining Confidence Through Resilience

This chapter wasn’t about arriving, it was about showing up. And it started with MBA Prep. Designed to set the foundation for incoming students, it felt like stepping onto a moving train. I wasn’t reviewing old material; I was learning entirely new concepts while everything around me was already in motion. It was humbling to sit with content that didn’t come naturally, all while managing everything else in my life.

Once the program officially began, the pace only picked up; faster discussions, tougher assignments, and the constant pressure of cold calls kept me alert. Every day required me to push beyond what felt familiar. Each time I pushed through, I wasn’t just learning, I was building confidence.

Realizing There Is No ‘Perfect’ Balance

Balancing work, school, and parenting is not easy, and the juggle is very real. Some weeks feel like a blur of deadlines, meetings, and late-night study sessions. And yes, some days are especially challenging.

Mothering while MBAing has taught me some of the hardest and most valuable lessons.

• Time is limited.
• Sleep is negotiable.
• Energy must be protected.

I’ve learned to cut the fluff, silence the self-doubt, and show up with focus and intention — even when I’m exhausted. I say no faster, move more decisively, and prioritize what truly matters. The juggling act is constant, but it’s also sharpened my ability to lead under pressure, solve problems with empathy, and find stillness in the chaos. These skills are shaping the leader I’m becoming.

Leaning Into Quant Subjects

What’s also been surprising? The classes I initially dreaded when I looked at the term schedule, Managerial Economics and Financial Management, ended up being the ones I’ve enjoyed the most. The concepts were completely new to me, and at times, it felt like learning another language. I remember Professor Brav telling me, “Just keep going. In two months, it’ll all start to make sense.” At the time, I wasn’t so sure, but he was right.

Not only have I gained practical skills, but I’ve rewritten the internal story I used to tell myself — that I wasn’t “a numbers person.” I’ve become more confident in areas I once avoided, and that shift has opened doors. Late last year, I transitioned into a new role in finance marketing, something I never would have pursued before this program. I proved to myself that I could grow in the spaces I once thought weren’t for me. And every day I’m reminded: it’s never too late to bet on yourself.

Giving Back to Team Fuqua

One of the most meaningful outcomes of this journey has been the opportunity to give back, something that feels deeply aligned with the values that brought me to Fuqua in the first place. From the very beginning, the admissions team showed me what intentional outreach looks like. Their consistent care over the years, checking in and reminding me that I still belonged here even when life had taken me in another direction, wasn’t just good follow-up. It was a reflection of what truly sets Fuqua apart, the ability to see people not as transactions, but as individuals with stories, potential, and purpose.

That stayed with me, and when the opportunity arose to serve as an admissions liaison, I didn’t hesitate. I believe in helping people see what’s possible for themselves, especially when they’re standing at the edge of self-doubt, just like I was back in 2015.  This space isn’t just for the confident or the numbers-savvy; it’s for the curious, the resilient, the ones still becoming. I get to hold up a mirror and say, “You belong here, too.”

Fuqua isn’t just a business school. Fuqua is a community built on trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to each other’s growth. It’s a place that challenges you to lead with both competence and compassion, to lift as you climb, and to lean into the discomfort that comes with real transformation. And that whole “Team Fuqua” thing? It’s real. I’ve built friendships here that I know will last a lifetime. It’s been one of the most unexpected and most meaningful aspects of this journey, and one I’ll always be grateful for.

So, if you’ve been quietly holding onto the MBA dream, wondering if the timing will ever be right let me offer this: the timing may never feel perfect. But if you’re waiting for a sign, consider this it. Your journey might not be easy or linear, but it’s yours. And there’s room for you here.

Fuqua met me where I was, but it didn’t let me stay there. It pushed me to grow, to stretch, and to become a version of myself I’m proud of. This isn’t just where my MBA journey began — it’s where I found my voice, my confidence, and a community that reminds me every day that I belong. Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t getting in, it’s giving yourself permission to take the first step toward who you’re becoming.