Expectation: Spending way too long standing in the exhausting line at Starbucks at the heart of the Ivey building with only 5 minutes left before I have to rush to my 8 a.m. class, hoping that my friends would save me a seat! Fast forward to the end of the semester, having case competitions in Ivey’s auditorium while staying up late with my teammates during the 48-hour exams and figuring out the best recommendations for the assigned case. We also can’t forget the iconic photoshoot by the Ivey wall with our green sweaters.
Reality: I remember opening my laptop and joining my first class, Accounting with Professor Yaqi, and seeing my cohort for the first time through little squares on the screen. I left that class overwhelmed, where do I even begin? How is it ever going to be possible to not only learn but to create relationships with my professors and my fellow classmates?
Before joining the MSc program, I was at Bentley University in Massachusetts for my undergraduate degree, where I studied Managerial Economics and Politics. When thinking about what to do next, the Ivey MSc program caught my eye with its unique teaching method – case-based learning. What better way to learn than to actually use the concepts you learn in real business situations that have occurred.
I applied, and was overjoyed when I received my acceptance letter. However, joining a Master’s program that will mainly occur virtually in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic brought many thoughts and mixed emotions of:
-
Worry – Will I be able to participate in a Master’s program from home? Forget that, what time will I be expected to stay up until to finish my assignments since I am in a different time zone.
-
Enthusiasm – I want to meet new people, create an Ivey family, and reap every benefit that Ivey has to offer.
-
Doubt – Can my Wi-Fi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) handle it? 30% of my grade is based on participation!
These ambivalent feelings diminished as the days in my program progressed. Although my daily routine was not so typical since I was attending class from my home in the DRC. Thus, due to the time difference, my class would start at 2 p.m. instead of 8 a.m. I converted my challenges to positive opportunities and discovered that starting in the afternoon would give me the advantage of using my mornings to review my cases, keeping the content fresh in my mind.
One of the main factors that played a role in easing my concerns and worries about school were the people I met on zoom. Ivey’s classes are not your typical lecture-based classes, instead they are more like a cohesive discussion among peers. It’s mainly focused on cases and learning teams as well as contribution and participation. Our daily meetings allowed me to interact and “meet” more of my cohort and foster beautiful friendships. The learning teams pushed us to figure out solutions together and work through areas that I felt I did not fully understand. It was all about asking questions, big or small, significant or not. The most comforting part...no one was alone. Having a supportive team was essential and was the catalyst that made the experience even better.
Our first Ivey social- Trivia Night hosted by MscA
My first semester has allowed me to be more adaptable to an increasingly online-focused environment especially during uncertain times. The intertwining split between learning and technology at Ivey meant that there would always be a challenging array of issues for me to be captivated with, and challenge drives me to be the best version of myself. I truly cannot wait for what the next semester has in-store.
For those that are worried about creating connections through online platforms, take a deep breath. It’s possible and you can do it! I was skeptical at first too, but after completing my first 90 days, my doubts have disappeared. I went from seeing strangers on my Zoom screen to making them my real-life roommates, a house I think I’ll love to appreciate and relationships I can’t wait to build on.
I learned a lot during the first semester at Ivey, so I would like to leave you with some tips to stay motivated online and continue to perform well:
- Look at the upside of situations. Things do not always go as planned, but you learn to be adaptive and patient.
- Be open-minded and do not be afraid to ask for help. Someone else probably has the same questions too.
- Make a schedule to be more efficient with your time.
- Take breaks away from technology to disconnect from what you’re doing. Zoom fatigue is real!
- Connect and interact socially with your cohort (online, of course).
- Get involved in clubs – participate or apply for executive positions.