A semester completed, quarter of MBA completed and I look back trying to figure out what has changed. It feels great to be a student again, specially after taking break for few years. 
The best thing I like about this place is emphasis on practical knowledge. Whatever I have studied before was lacking in this, we might be studying the best in the world but if I do not learn how to handle real world scenario, it involves a lot of hard work when we face the problems. And I guess an MBA program should be like this only, where we learn mostly based on real world cases and situations. Our professors were great too, bringing a lot of industry experience and preparing us for the world.
Second thing I liked was flexibility in the program, I had multiple options in selecting subjects, professors, timing and sometimes the exam type. These options definitely help student a lot in exploring new fields and thus overall development. I even have flexibility to customize my MBA concentration, that is great.
Moving to US was interesting. I wanted to study in US, learn about the business from US perspective and I feel that I took right decision moving here. There are a lot of things to learn, a lot that it might take my many lives to do so, but I want to keep doing that. It could not have been possible with a lot of reading, interaction, sometimes you have to be at the place where most of the action is taking place. Luckily for me, the major economic downturn took place when I am in school, this taught us a lot of lessons and our professors really helped us to take positives out of it.
I joined SPPS – Student Publication Photo Staff and am learning more about photography here. My love for Sports and Photography got the perfect destination, am learning a lot of new stuff and want to be a Sports Photographer. Sally and Nick have helped me out of lot and have done few assignments with them at Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball and Swimming event. I was not aware of very simple stuff like, presence of ball in the frame, what reporters actually want and this place is helping me learn all this. I must say, go with the passion you have and there will be many opportunities to learn.
Moving to a new place always helps meet a lot of new people and I am always scared of that part. I feel good in a small space and do not mingle with people easily, but there are some good people and they always find me. Same happened here, I met a lot of good people from varied background. It was fun spending time with them, learning about new places, culture, history etc.
America is crazy about Football (not Soccer) and I got into the same colors. I love sports in any form, that is the real entertainment and that is why I enjoyed Football here at VT. Hokies are passionate about the place, game and everything here and now I am drenched in Hokie colors - maroon and orange.
Now waiting for next semester with new subjects, new professors and much more to learn, but before this enjoying these holidays. Happy Holidays everyone!
