As a recent MBA graduate, I often hear the question “what are you going to do with all that free time?” The short answer is – whatever I want – but the long answer requires a lot more thought. Working full-time, taking evening classes, and attempting to not ignore family and friends for two and a half years left little spare time to explore passion projects or other interests, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t often dream about life on the other side.

I loved my time at Booth. The late nights, the weekends spent whiteboarding for hours on end, and the constant reading and studying were certainly tiring, but the grind contributed to an ongoing feeling of pride and accomplishment. Booth taught me practical skills in finance, strategy, entrepreneurship, and management, but the real value-add to an MBA is what goes on underneath the surface. Graduate school completely changes the way you think, and as a result, I am a different person today than I was the first day I walked through the door in 2015. My desire to learn and grow has never been stronger, and although formal schooling is behind me, education remains a crucial aspect of my life. I owe this renewed intellectual curiosity to the people and program at Chicago Booth, and I am determined not to waste it.

So now I’m left to ponder: what’s next? Change is the law of life, and it is important to embrace the tailwinds. I recognize that the opportunities are truly endless and that the future comes one day at a time. For now, I’m eagerly embarking upon the next chapter, and look forward to what is to come.