We’ve all heard the phrase, “When you know, you know.” For me, I’ve always known I’d pursue business or something related. It was common sense to me. I was familiar with it, grew up surrounded by it, and was born with a “business mind.”
Even though I thought I knew a lot about the topic, there was so much I didn’t. Since starting the business program at CMU, I’ve had many eye-opening moments. Many things caught me off guard, but everything felt like finding a new piece to a never-ending puzzle.
Ironically, I’m someone who doesn’t like surprises. So, for my fellow surprise haters, business lovers, or program seekers, here are three things I wish I knew before starting my program (although, they were pretty fun and fascinating surprises).
1. Business is a school of thought.
Business is not just a program; it’s a school of thought. One thing I’ve realized since starting my studies is that business is everywhere. I see my studies in everything I do. Our local folio café is a business. CMU is an institution that uses business to grow and stay afloat. The things I learn in a classroom I apply in my life—often subconsciously. For example, because of my economics classes, cost-benefit analysis is how I make every decision. If I procrastinate and my deadline is approaching, I’ll weigh the cost of a late assignment to my grade. During a side quest with friends, I’ll weigh the cost and benefit of anything I want to buy (if it’s a matcha, it’s almost always worth it).
2. The opportunities are endless. Literally.
In the same way that you see business everywhere, you can do anything with business. You like psychology? Try human resources! You like humanities? Museums and libraries are businesses, too! I feel like when people think business, they think the big corporations, or anything that has to do with a cash transaction. In reality, business is so much more than making money. Business has to do with the day to day of keeping an organization running. This means it’s more than just “What can I sell?” or “How can I make money?” It’s “Who am I serving?” and “How can I do better?” You can do so much with your business degree and education. The sky is truly the limit.
3. The Redekop School of Business is well-rounded.
One thing I didn’t anticipate in starting my program at CMU is that I’d be learning more than just business. Like I’ve stated before (at this point I sound like a broken record), business is everywhere and in everything, and CMU has done a great job at incorporating that notion into our education. Not often would I learn about Indigenous ways of doing business or think about taking a religious-based business course, but these teachings are vital for my career. The business world is so diverse, with it being made up of people from different cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The diversity in the people directly translate to their way of doing business. While it’s not easy to teach students all the cultures in the world, my professors at CMU have done a great job at preparing me for what I may face in the workforce. I learn not only the functions of a business, but also the effects of it and its decisions on society.
I’m only in my second year of studies, but I feel like a whole new world has opened itself up for me. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my studies have in store for me, and I’m so glad to have chosen CMU.
Venaika Jean is a second-year Redekop School of Business student.
