In a few hours, I am handing over the keys to the home I own here in Palm Beach County, Florida to the new tenants who will be renting it for the next year or few. As I prepare, it truly touches a chord—this is my HOME. It is not an investment property, a flip, or something I expected to move in and move out of. This is the place where I duped a crew of unsuspecting friends into what became a three day long painting campaign/operation/crusade (light green for the first floor and purple in my bedroom—obviously not selections made with re-renting in mind!), threw parties and impromptu barbecues, and spent long hours studying for the GMAT and toiling over application essays. This is the view from the balcony off my master bedroom. I will miss it!
Of course, this further brings home what I am doing—leaving my life as I know it behind in pursuit of…. What, exactly? I know what was important to me here in my life in Florida, how do I seek and honor that at school? Someone told me that getting to attend business school at a top program such as UCLA Anderson is like winning a lucky lottery ticket. Okay, so maybe the lottery gives you money and it doesn’t quite work that way with school!, but I like the idea behind this. I have two years to explore my interests, translate what matters to me into ideas or programs that are meaningful to others and the community, and gain a skillset that will allow me to better lead and manage them.
Therefore, I have spent lots of time this summer reflecting in an effort to reach some measure of self-awareness before I am thrown into the 12-hour days of Orientation and a 1st Quarter chock full of 5 classes, networking, new clubs, responsibilities, and job searching, to name just some of the things expected of us once business school begins. Being intentional in reflection has allowed me to realize that I want to be sure to “give back as much as I get.”
For me, I anticipate this will include participation in the Anderson Net Impact Club, whose mission is to improve the world by creating new leaders who are using the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental, and economic impact. There’s the Anderson Challenge for Charity (Anderson C4C), one of many non-profit opportunities that focuses not only on raising money but on spending hours giving back to the community through volunteerism and leadership.
I am also very excited that Anderson provides the opportunity to earn a UCLA Leadership in Sustainability Certificate along with the MBA degree, which allows for a curriculum and leadership experience that focuses on creating a positive influence on the community from a social and environmental perspective.
I can’t say for sure what I will choose to become involved in once I dive head first into my time at Anderson as these opportunities are only a few of so many that encourage social mindfulness. But I do think it is important to spend some time before getting caught up in the whirlwind of school to identify what we will use our lucky lottery tickets for. And now that it is August the clock is ticking down toward when I get to cash in mine, and I can’t wait!
-Charlotte Baxter
