The last 6-7 months have been a roller coaster ride for me. It is said that an MBA is a very intense course and you lose the track of your life during these 2 years. You are basically thrown in front of a train and have to constantly race against time to avoid being hit by that fast-paced train. You have to be on the top of your game at all times, one wrong step and all the effort you've put in can be wasted.
All of the above is true. It is also true that the stress levels are very high with so many things going around you. An MBA student has to successfully juggle multiple things at a time - Recruitment, Course Work, Homework, Networking, Housework, Social Events etc.
But the one thing that no one tells you about is how to juggle relationships with your peers. When you come into an MBA program you meet a large set of people from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures. You work with them in teams, hang out with them, and practically spend 3/4th of your day with them doing something or the other. You like some people, dislike some people, and for some your opinion keeps on changing constantly because you can't really understand them. But at the end of the day they are your competitors in every field. However, in the course of all this you also find a few people you can trust and genuinely talk to. You can be yourself with them and don't have to always keep your guard on. They become your circle of close friends.
But let me caution you, don't get fooled by this circle of friends and don't think of it as permanent! As is said, everything in the MBA is about professional relationships. You gradually realize that majority of your close friends are also nothing but opportunists who are with you till the time you are of some use to them. Be it homework, recruitment stuff, or something else. They are with you because of what you can do for them and not because of who you are. Also, they wouldn't hesitate in moving to the next group of people when they've extracted all benefits from you. That is when you realize how alone you are in reality and how you just cannot afford to trust anyone!
This has been my biggest learning from an MBA program till now. Never ever take any friendship/relationship you have in an MBA program to be permanent. It is simply a transactional professional relationship. This reminds of a popular song from a movie called Page 3, which is a perfect explanation of the nature of relationships in an MBA. Here are the lyrics:
All of the above is true. It is also true that the stress levels are very high with so many things going around you. An MBA student has to successfully juggle multiple things at a time - Recruitment, Course Work, Homework, Networking, Housework, Social Events etc.
But the one thing that no one tells you about is how to juggle relationships with your peers. When you come into an MBA program you meet a large set of people from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures. You work with them in teams, hang out with them, and practically spend 3/4th of your day with them doing something or the other. You like some people, dislike some people, and for some your opinion keeps on changing constantly because you can't really understand them. But at the end of the day they are your competitors in every field. However, in the course of all this you also find a few people you can trust and genuinely talk to. You can be yourself with them and don't have to always keep your guard on. They become your circle of close friends.
But let me caution you, don't get fooled by this circle of friends and don't think of it as permanent! As is said, everything in the MBA is about professional relationships. You gradually realize that majority of your close friends are also nothing but opportunists who are with you till the time you are of some use to them. Be it homework, recruitment stuff, or something else. They are with you because of what you can do for them and not because of who you are. Also, they wouldn't hesitate in moving to the next group of people when they've extracted all benefits from you. That is when you realize how alone you are in reality and how you just cannot afford to trust anyone!
This has been my biggest learning from an MBA program till now. Never ever take any friendship/relationship you have in an MBA program to be permanent. It is simply a transactional professional relationship. This reminds of a popular song from a movie called Page 3, which is a perfect explanation of the nature of relationships in an MBA. Here are the lyrics:
Kitne ajib rishte hai yaha pe - (3)
Do pal milate hai, saath saath chalate hai - (2)
Jab mod aaye toh, bachake nikalate hai
Kitne ajib rishte hai yaha pe - (2)
Do pal milate hai, saath saath chalate hai - (2)
Jab mod aaye toh, bachake nikalate hai
Yaha sabhee apanee hee dhun mai divaane hai - (2)
Kare wahee jo apna dil kee hee maane hai
Kaun kisko puchhe, kaun kisko bole - (2)
Sabke labon par apane taraane hai - (2)
Le jaaye nasib kisi ko kaha pe
Kitne ajib rishte hai yaha pe - (2)
Khwaabo kee yeh duniya hai, khwaabo me hee rehna hai - (2)
Raahe le jaaye jaha, sang sang chalana hai
Wakt ne hamesha yaha naye khel khele - (2)
Kuchh bhee ho jaaye, yaha bas khush rehana hai - (2)
Manjil lage karib sabako yaha pe
Kitne ajib rishte hai yaha pe
Do pal milate hai, saath saath chalate hai - (2)
Jab mod aaye toh bach ke nikalate hai
Kitne ajib rishte hai yaha pe - (6)
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