Looking back into 2009
December 29th, 2009 Posted in Day-to-Day, MBA, MIT Sloan, Thoughts | No Comments »We are almost entering in 2010 and now is time to do some retrospection as well as some introspection. I wouldn’t say that NYE is the most exciting time for me because I would be lying. Why should one have to pretend to be insanely happy just because one more year has passed?
That said, I consider New Year’s Eve a very important time for each of one us. This is the time when we look back and think about how much we developed during the year, how we have contributed to our family, friends, colleagues as well as to the rest of this world of ours.
There are clearly two key moments during this year for me:
1. Leaving Amsterdam
2. Joining MIT Sloan
Amsterdam… Until next time
After spending six years in Amsterdam it was time to say goodbye and embrace a new challenge. Behind I leave an amazing country, which I hope one day go back to. I also leave for now a bunch of great friends which I will never forget. And when I mention friends, I would say this also include colleagues.
Ernst & Young: At the same time that I left Amsterdam, I also had to say goodbye to the organization that had developed me as a professional since I left college. Great group of people, great group of friends. I am proud to say that I am an E&Y guy. That will never change.
Diving and UW Photography: Curiously enough, it was while in Amsterdam that I became serious about diving and about photography. This was the place where I would dive three times a week, no matter if it was raining, snowing or if it was sunny (the latter happening very rarely).
Biking: Being able to bike to work was simply amazing. After complaining so many times about the weather and the fact that I had to bike with bad weather, I now realize how cool it was to do so. MAybe will adopt this lifestyle pretty soon (Boston, be prepared!!!)
Drugs: Ahahah, I knew this would draw your attention. No, no drugs for me, you know that!!!
Boston… Hello MIT Sloan!!!
You’re in!!!
When I look back I still can’t believe I actually made it!!! After a long time of stress, doubts and lots and lots of hard work I got the magic call: “congrats, you’re in!!!”
The second question was “will I fit? After all MIT is all nerds, right?”. Well.. not really. Not that there is anything wrong with being nerd 
The moment I flew to Boston to attent AdMIT weekend, I was certain this was the right place for me. I was gonna spend the next two years with people that are not only extremely smart but also extremely friendly, cooperative, fun and very much down-to-earth. For all of you know me well, you know how important that is for me.
Orientation
Orientation was the beginning of the year. There are in theory no real classes (well one, communication) but still taken very seriously with full days with several seminars, outdoors activities and many other activities. Of course at night, not much time to sleep as everyone is going out and getting to know each other better.
Surviving the Core
After the orientation week, the world just seemed to be turned upside down. It was time to start the Core. Until that I thought to myself - can’t be that bad…. Well, until the first hour of class. After that it’s all downhill LOL. Dozens of emails, assignments, prepare cases for classes, read the chapters in the books before classes.
If that seems enough, we were just starting and already the career development office is telling us we need to start preparing…. wait a minute…. I am only gonna finish the course in two years, so I have time right? WRONG… it starts right away!!!
Company presentations literally all lunch breaks means that we actually don’t have to worry about where to go eat… or what to eat… I guess Core means pizza, chinese food, Cosi or burritos… and when there is no company presentation there is always a club presentation or other career presentations.
My calendar went from virtually empty to a full array of colors that normally started at 8am and finished pretty late.
There is never a dull moment over Core, that is for sure!!! One of the most difficult tasks is to actually filter all the information that is being thrown at us. As they say, we have to learn how to “drink from the firehose”.
In summary, Core has been great, with lots of challenges, all of them surpassed thanks to the great friends we make over there. It was great but I am glad it’s over!!! LOL
Can’t forget the moment we left our DMD exam, the last of our finals, and were welcome by our amazing Student advisor, Dawn. The room was full with balloons, food, drinks. Huge party!!! It is great to be a Sloanie!!!!
Core over - IAP: Now it is almost time to start again, this time with IAP (Independent Activities Period). There are no mandatory classes during this period. Some people will go and travel for a month, others will do externships, others will stay in Boston preparing for the internship interviews (my case). But before that will go to the Bay Area for two treks (trips where go visit companies from a specific industry). The first being the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Trek, the second the Mediatech Trek.
Until then, let’s hope the bad weather here in Portugal will allow me to take the plane tomorrow back to the US!!!
