Changes, choices

It seems like I begin every quarter with a discussion of what's changed and, in keeping with the trend, this post will offer a brief sample of what's new in Q4.
First ... choice!
For the majority of our first-year, my peers and I have diligently worked through Darden's core curriculum. Kept on the same schedule (three classes, 8 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.) and in the same room, we've learned Finance, Decision Analysis, Marketing, Accounting, Economics and Leading Organizations together. Yet now, during Q4, we've started to diverge. While we all still take Leading Organizations and Ethics, we also have three electives ... meaning that for the first time, we have the ability to choose classes based on interest and need. The result is an interesting split. With summer internships looming, there have been noticeable divisions: the bankers are in Valuation; the marketers, Marketing Intelligence, and the consultants, the Consulting Process.
Second ... leadership transition. As I mentioned earlier, the time has come for second-years to cede club positions to their first-year successors. For those successors (myself included), this means taking on new responsibilities and stepping up to provide real impact. Of course, as with anything, more responsibility equates with more demands on our time. But I'm sure I'm not alone in believing it's worth it. As an example, the new leadership team for the Media, Entertainment & Sports club met this week to hash out plans for next year. For me, the meeting was a great reminder of my peers' enthusiasm for, and their dedication to making life (and job-hunting) easier for fellow Dardenites.
Third ... internship prep. With just a couple months between me and my internship, I'm starting to worry about how to make the most of my summer. I want to feel confident going in that I'll be able to contribute and lately, that's meant taking stock of all that I've learned at Darden. Just from a cursory glance around my bedroom, that's about two feet worth of cases and technical notes.

Spring Break!

It's Spring Break and, perhaps in an effort to recapture beach weeks of years past, I am enjoying my break in Mexico. So far, it's been glorious. The weather in Playa del Carmen has been perfect -- mid-80's, slight ocean breeze; the resort is fantastic and stretching out poolside is a welcome change from curling up in front of my laptop.
Another welcome change? Apart from this evening's brief blog session, I'm completely unplugged here. No email. No texts. No phone calls. No meeting space meetings. In fact, I wouldn't even be online now if it weren't for Jordan, who apparently needed to check his stocks this morning (some things never change, even when you're surrounded by miles of white-sand beaches and endless margaritas). What makes this break from technology so remarkable is my Darden-fostered addiction to my Blackberry. Now, long before I walked Darden's halls, I'd heard about the dangers of the so-called "crackberry." But now I know it's true. In the past six months, I am rarely without my calculator-sized best friend. And because of it, I'm rarely inaccessible. I have friends with whom I'll email and text almost simultaneously ... 5 minutes before I see them face-to-face.
But not here in Mexico. Here, the sound of my phone has been replaced by the sound of the ocean and the blinking light of waiting emails has been replaced by the twinkle of stars. Give me a few more days and I might miss these signs of connectedness, but for now I'll relish the much-needed break.