Doing Business in America.The United States of America, that is. After 6 years of providing international study for the 3rd year Lindner Honors-PLUS classes, it became clear that graduating students of the program left the University of Cincinnati with more knowledge and understanding about the culture and business environment abroad than they did their own country. Therefore, the LHP Domestic Study Experience to Washington, D.C. and New York City was organized to provide a comprehensive learning opportunity for its students to ensure they are sufficiently prepared to work and thrive in America's societal, economical, and political world.
Exploratory events such as Eatily, Broadway, Smithsonian Museums, memorials, and Central Park combined with the scheduled visits to companies such as Citibank, CBX, JP Morgan, and Van Wagner as well as lectures with keynote speakers at Senator Rob Portman's Office created an unforgettable experience that sparked my excitement for travel and immersion. |
Descriptive Reflection
Some lessons and best practices are best presented outside of a classroom. With the domestic trip to Washington, DC and New York City, my class and I were immersed in a dynamic environment where various perspectives and experiences effectively presented these lessons. Many leaders shared their wisdom, insights, actions, and knowledge with our group to illustrate a path of failures and ultimate success. This ranged from describing what they do and who they are to describing their journey to date as well as where they plan to grow from here. Through their stories, I was able to extract many lessons as well as insights and apply them to my academic, extracurricular, and personal life.
Some lessons and best practices are best presented outside of a classroom. With the domestic trip to Washington, DC and New York City, my class and I were immersed in a dynamic environment where various perspectives and experiences effectively presented these lessons. Many leaders shared their wisdom, insights, actions, and knowledge with our group to illustrate a path of failures and ultimate success. This ranged from describing what they do and who they are to describing their journey to date as well as where they plan to grow from here. Through their stories, I was able to extract many lessons as well as insights and apply them to my academic, extracurricular, and personal life.
Experiential Learning Artifact
To capture my first study experience outside the UC classroom, I wrote reflections on and analyses of the diverse governmental and company visits we attended throughout our week in Washington and New York.
The number of lessons learned from this trip far exceeds what I was able to iterate in this reflection and analysis. In each section, I attempted to relate the visit to the broader picture of my life and current pursuits. Overall, I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to live ethically, humbly, and diligently in order to align my priorities and succeed personally and professionally. I anticipate the countless pieces of advice I have collected over the week to be called to action in the coming years, as I work to network, dive deeper in my leadership roles, and grow as an individual.
I’ve never felt more motivated to give all of my energy and efforts towards my personal and professional development than after speaking to some of these influential people. What makes the difference from other sources of encouragement is that I was able to witness their efforts come to fruition, witness their success and understand the positive impact their journey has had on their lives and the lives of those around them.
It is time to start honing in and focusing on my skills as an employee and young professional rather than a student. I will always be learning, no matter the setting. In every visit, the point was made that there are a lot of 4.0’s in the stack of resumes. What makes the employer further separate me from them? What quality have I brought to my studies and personal development? How have I given back and impacted my community, beyond accepting and absorbing what the community has offered me? Adam from CBX makes this very clear: young professionals cannot be competitive on GPA alone. Employers are looking for human managers, not task managers. The skills required to be an effective human manager emerge through collaborative experiences found in campus and community involvement.
I am pleased to have been able to relate to so many of the lessons and best practices from this week and know, upon reflection, that I have begun applying them in my everyday life. More importantly, however, I am excited to apply new lessons and add them to my reservoir of best practices. I am grateful for this unique experience and hope to carry these lessons with me as I move forward with my career
The number of lessons learned from this trip far exceeds what I was able to iterate in this reflection and analysis. In each section, I attempted to relate the visit to the broader picture of my life and current pursuits. Overall, I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to live ethically, humbly, and diligently in order to align my priorities and succeed personally and professionally. I anticipate the countless pieces of advice I have collected over the week to be called to action in the coming years, as I work to network, dive deeper in my leadership roles, and grow as an individual.
I’ve never felt more motivated to give all of my energy and efforts towards my personal and professional development than after speaking to some of these influential people. What makes the difference from other sources of encouragement is that I was able to witness their efforts come to fruition, witness their success and understand the positive impact their journey has had on their lives and the lives of those around them.
It is time to start honing in and focusing on my skills as an employee and young professional rather than a student. I will always be learning, no matter the setting. In every visit, the point was made that there are a lot of 4.0’s in the stack of resumes. What makes the employer further separate me from them? What quality have I brought to my studies and personal development? How have I given back and impacted my community, beyond accepting and absorbing what the community has offered me? Adam from CBX makes this very clear: young professionals cannot be competitive on GPA alone. Employers are looking for human managers, not task managers. The skills required to be an effective human manager emerge through collaborative experiences found in campus and community involvement.
I am pleased to have been able to relate to so many of the lessons and best practices from this week and know, upon reflection, that I have begun applying them in my everyday life. More importantly, however, I am excited to apply new lessons and add them to my reservoir of best practices. I am grateful for this unique experience and hope to carry these lessons with me as I move forward with my career