MBA Journal: Graduation Week at Kellogg

"In the last two years, I have met smart people, learned more than I thought possible, and had a lot of fun"

By Lorena Sánchez García

As ‘disorientation week’ (my informal name for graduation week—given that it’s as intense as orientation, but all that is now familiar will soon vanish) began, I felt a mix of melancholy, accomplishment, and excitement. It seemed like only yesterday that I arrived for admit weekend at Kellogg. In the past two years, I have met smart people, learned more than I thought possible, and had a lot of fun.

During grad week I attended my first alumni event. We received gifts—Tiffany bracelets for women and Ralph Lauren ties for men—reminding us to always "Keep Kellogg Closer." I will continue my involvement as an alumna by becoming an ambassador and an applicant interviewer, so if you see me somewhere, please say hello.

I also attended the launch of my good friend’s startup. It was exciting to see the business idea he had when we started as Kellogg— selling cool T-shirts and contributing money to charity—become a reality. As the weather got warmer, I went to my first Chicago Cubs game, which gave me a chance to learn about baseball and spend time with friends. I also participated in my last formal event at Kellogg: prom night. It was exciting to see everyone dressed up one last time. Even getting ready with the girls was fun. We all captured the memory by taking pictures in the photo booth at the event.

Final Mass, MBA Sunrise

Finally, I attended a going-away mass at Sheil Catholic Center, the last event organized by the Catholics@Kellogg leadership team, and I walked at both of my convocations to receive my MBA and MEM degrees. The night ended with a Kellogg tradition as graduates watched the sun rise on the shores of Lake Michigan, marking our first full day as MBAs and the beginning of a new stage in our lives.

As my MBA journey wraps up, I think back to when I was applying for business school. My essays then centered on creating a holistic well-being. If I were applying again, my motivations and goals would be the same. However, the depth with which I would describe my mentor, leadership skills, failures, accomplishments, goals, and self-awareness would be much more detailed.

I am now aware of what an important role applications play in business school. Not only are they essential to help schools evaluate, but they also serve as a compass for admitted students. Applications can guide you when you are flooded with options; they are a reminder of what needs attention in your journey of improvement. They also serve as a constant reminder of who you are and what you want to become.

When I came to Kellogg, I didn’t know that my career path was such an unpaved road. Beauty companies do not recruit on campus, and the Kellogg network in the field is small but growing. I wish I were more aware at the start that my transition would take a lot of preparation and hard work. While things were hard at times, I had an amazing support network in my peers and an excellent career coach, a second-year student who was my interview-preparation group leader. Thanks to him, my hard work, and many people who believed in me, I landed my dream job at L’Oreal.

My Kellogg MBA Top 10 List

Before signing off, I want to share the 10 things I liked most about earning the Kellogg MBA:

1. Having friends from all over the world who provided me with a support network and who shared in activities inside and outside class. I went on trips, participated in clubs, and played soccer in the Kellogg World Cup with them.