It has been a long time since my last post, but it could have been expected that I would hardly have much time to attend to the blog. Two classes, six weeks, group cases and projects = no slack time. But it is all over now. I have been officially on a summer break from my MBA program for the last seven minutes, when I clicked submit button on my online final exam in Operations Strategy course.
It is interesting to compare my emotions at the end of the term from my first year of MBA and even terms in the second year. Thanks to the blog, I can go back and read how I felt at the time, because I would not remember it so vividly otherwise. Here is a short recollection of my posts marking the end of the term from my last two years of going through the part-time MBA program at George Washington University School of Business:
- Fall 2009 – my very first MBA term. I actually had two posts about the end of the term, which is remarkable in itself: Fall Term Is Over, Almost and Part-time MBA on Winter Break! It shows how much emotion I had about it that I could not hold it or express in just one post
It also shows that even amidst all that stress and pressure I was more dedicated to upkeeping my blog than now 
It was probably the hardest term of my MBA experience – back to school after too many years break. It’s almost funny to read now that I was looking forward to such simple things as checking my daughter’s homework on a winter break. But at that time it did not seem funny 
- Spring/Summer 2010 – the end of my first year of MBA. I also had two posts, one at the official end of the first year My Part-Time MBA First Year is Over!, which was the end of the Spring term. It was probably the most emotionally charged post of all. Probably because I already learned a bit better to manage stress and became better at expressing positive emotions previously masked by stress. Also, it was a huge milestone – FIRST FULL YEAR OF MBA was done. And the other post was at the end of the Summer term -First Year Part-time MBA Is Complete – when I officially marked a departure on a summer break, just like today. The emotions were not running as high as in previous post, “just a deep sense of relief and calm serenity”.
- At the end of Fall 2010 I actually did not even have a celebratory post. I had a quasi-commemorative post Fall Term 2010 at GW MBA Near End, partly because I still had exams ahead after the end of classes. But overall the term end became more routine and business as usual.
- A post at the end of the Spring term this year – 2-nd Year MBA Spring Term is Over – only mentioned a relief, as far as it goes for emotions.
Today I don’t have as high emotions as last year, but I am more excited than at the end of this Spring term. The reasons are very obvious. First, it is the beginning of a summer break, and I will really appreciate some time off from the school, especially since it is two months. Second, there is only one more year left of my part-time MBA program.
As much as I have been enjoying it so far, in spite of all the stress and time crunch, I am looking forward to finishing it. It has been very taxing on my time and family and we will all appreciate getting back some of our life. Also, I am excited to explore what new doors become open with my MBA degree in hand. Anyways, if everything goes as planned, this time next year I will be done with my MBA, and on to the new horizons!
Below is a chart of my personal emotional levels felt at the end of the terms at GWU part-time MBA program with extrapolation through the graduation.
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