Seated in Room 200 at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business, I looked around apprehensively at the 78 other first-year MBA students, anxiously awaiting to be called up to the front to introduce myself to my new peers. After hearing from countless classmates over the first couple of days as they shared the greatest hits of their educational and professional lives — the nuclear surface warfare officer, the indie rocker with 47 million YouTube views, the British parliamentarian, the car dealership owner, the pro volleyball player, and the internationally renowned swimmer — the intimidation factor was set at level 11. After “Muna Khalif” rang out through the auditorium, the adrenaline hit full force, and I delivered a blistering PowerPoint that remains a blurry spot in my memory.
- Everyone experiences “imposter syndrome.”
Come to find out, I wasn’t the only student suffering from the belief that we aren’t as accomplished or deserving of a place beside the people we compare ourselves to. Later, I learned that my ultra-impressive classmates felt the same way I did — that their life achievements didn’t measure up to the standards others had set. My classmate Jay Wilson explains, “Over time, we got to know each other as people, rather than just as walking resumes, and the self-doubt we had all been feeling started to melt away.” Through the process, we began to feel we undoubtedly belonged among such stellar company.
- Student teams are built with intention.
One reason my classmates and I have felt more comfortable is because of the meaningful relationships we have developed within our four- or five-student cohort groups. Each group has acquired its own collective identity. My cohort, for example, is a paragon of diversity, featuring an eclectic mix of Brazilian, Indian-American, Middle Eastern and European-American, and Somali-American students. Our varied backgrounds and life experiences have made our cohort a productive and tight-knit group. As first-years, we have experienced the true meaning of teamwork, leveraging the benefit of our individual talents and insights.
Because the cohorts are so heterogeneous, it might appear that we were just randomly lumped together, but the truth is that behind the scenes, the MBA program office employed more of a Hogwarts-style sorting hat process to purposely arrange the groups as they are. A semester in, I now recognize the intelligent design of these cohorts.
- The Jones MBA Career Center is really with us every step of the way.
My classmates and I have been pleasantly surprised by the authentic support we consistently receive from the career services team — they are truly exceptional. The team has made sure each individual student and cohort is on the path to success. They have maintained a hands-on approach to ensure our resumes are presentation-ready and that we secure internships that fit our interests, abilities, and aspirations.
- Someone is always there.
In Scheller’s welcoming environment, the relationships go well beyond the classroom as we first-year students have become like family in a remarkably short period of time. We move from class to class as a swarm, the majority of us living within the same square on campus. We have come to rely on each other, safe in the knowledge that whether day or night, someone is always there. Plus, with Slack, Tech Square, and Cypress Street Pint & Plate, we always feel at home.
With our first semester officially in the books, it’s hard to believe we have already completed a quarter of the program. My cohort-mate Abriel Corsey says it well, “I’m surprised by how quickly the first semester went by. We’ve already had so many new experiences, and I’ve watched my classmates accomplish so much, including accepting offers, winning case competitions, and exploring new career paths. The time has flown by.”
Muna Khalif is a first-year Full-time MBA student at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, fashion & design, and creating social impact by investing in access to education.
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