Edmund L. Houston Foundation
Alumni & friends of Rutgers Business School's MBA Program
My first year at Rutgers Business School has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. Coming back to school after time away from the classroom was a major adjustment for me, especially while balancing becoming a husband in September, career goals, health, and everyday responsibilities. During my first semester, I put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything at a high level all at once, and I quickly realized that constantly stressing myself out was not helping me learn or grow.
That realization really changed my second semester. I became more intentional with my routine, more realistic with my expectations, and more focused on consistency instead of trying to be perfect every day. I learned that I perform best when I am balanced and fully present, not when I am overwhelmed. As a result, I was able to improve academically, successfully lead the MBA consulting club as the President, finishing the semester with a 3.60 GPA, while also enjoying the experience much more overall.
One of the highlights of my first year was participating in Rutgers’ Global Experience course in Singapore and Vietnam. Visiting companies like Google, KPMG and VNG gave me exposure to different business environments and helped expand the way I think about technology, leadership, and global business. This summer, I will also be joining a leading cybersecurity company as a Sales Intern, which is an exciting step toward my long term goal of building a career in technology sales and marketing.
More than anything, this year reminded me how important community and support are. I would not be where I am today without people who took the time to guide me, believe in me, and encourage me along the way. I am very grateful to the Edmund L. Houston Foundation and its donors for investing in students like me and helping make opportunities like mine possible. See my bio here.
Journaling his first year at RBS by our Edmund L Houston Foundation Grantee Diquan Jackson