Jill Yellock

The 1st years vs. 2nd years Soccer game

The day after rafting we had the all-important 1st vs. 2nd year soccer game.  We had to win this game.  The 2nd years were undefeated.  (There are two games per year.)  We wanted to show them that we are unstoppable. 

I did not play in the game, because, well, I don’t play soccer well.  I was the “head cheerleader”.  We did a lot of screaming and jumping in support of our co-ed team!  It was a great game, and the 1st year team was victorious!  Go 1st years class of 2007!

The Final Blast!!

The final blast prior to classes was the white water rafting trip. 

We left from Tepper at 11am.  We arrived at the river at one.  We spent 4 ½ hours rafting on the Ohiopyle river.  It was a great experience.  I had the wonderful opportunity of bonding more with my classmates, and 2nd years who were in my raft.  A few of us fell out of the rafts while in some great raging rapids, but that was the joy of it all.  Fortunately, being the only female in my raft, the guys would grab me before I fell out.  I usually would not want to be saved; however, it was raining and a bit cool on the day we went rafting, and the water felt like ice.  Even though I’m exhausted after the day on the water, my mind won’t sleep. 

On Monday classes begin, and I continuously wonder if I’m truly ready for the challenge. 

Orientation

Orientation was interesting.  I have met many new classmates who have increased the diversity of experience and lifestyle in this class.  It is wonderful.  This week we spent time sharing information about ourselves and learning about all of the resources at Tepper.  The Career Opportunity Center is a wonderful resource.  They provide guidance in career planning, resume building, interviewing, negotiation, and job placement.  It is hard work through.  We have to create a career plan, our resume, and a cover letter. 

It is great because they are really making us think about our future direction in detail.  The process requires through self-awareness and observation.  In reality, balancing studying, career planning, activities, and social interactions is going to be quite the challenge.

On the interactive side of orientation, we had Team Day--sharing experiences.  The most revealing session was talking about an event in life that had the most impact.  We were looking for inspirational stories, so that when we are feeling like giving up, we have a story of experience that proves we are fighters and survivors. 

My story was the inspiration of the class because I fell from a mountain cliff less than a year ago and had severe head injuries; however, my determination to go to school survived, and to my doctor’s disbelief, I survived.  I took the GMAT after that incident, and I am not the “vegetable” that my medical team warned my family I would be.  Regardless of how difficult the next two years will be, I know that I will endure!

QSRP is over!!

QSRP is over!!  Thank goodness.  I do not think I have ever felt so ‘dumb’ in my life!  The last time I saw Advanced Calculus, I was a freshman in college.  Back then, I took calculus as an easy-A+ class.  Now?  Uh, I hope that I will not have to rely on calculus frequently! 

Seriously, I enrolled in Tepper for the challenge and I certainly have been.  The QSRP classes have made me more serious and determined to be the best Tepper student I can be.  I have already bought all of my books for my classes.  Without having the syllabus, I have already started reading.  In QSRP, I learned that you could not afford not to be prepared for class (i.e. Read the assignment prior to class!).  Oone can gain additional value from what taught and will enhance the learning experience.  Why take 2 years off work to learn nothing?

Tomorrow orientation begins!  I am very excited because now all of my classmates will be on campus, so I have an opportunity to make additional friends and connections.  Orientation is countdown to the date that we begin classes. 

Balancing Act

QSRP has been a challenging experience not because the vast extent of math one has to relearn (or for you lucky ones....review).  The challenge is balancing the excitement of meeting my classmates with my homework and preparation for the Friday morning quizzes.

Due to my ability to talk to anyone, I'm one of the de facto social arrangers for the class.  Almost every night, I plan a social outlet for our class.  Somehow, many expect me to be present.  Jeez, that's difficult.  In order to satisfy my new friends and myself, I've changed my schedule to accommodate all.  I wake up early in the morning to study, go to class, leave for the gym, then study or run errands for the majority of the afternoon. I plan the social event for the following evening.

Planning the social events sometimes involves negotiating with the venue owner i.e. waiving entrance fees and/or getting free VIP rooms.  We are a huge group of Tepper students, so I leverage that fact.   While at a social, preparing for the next day of class always subconsciously haunts me.   Many of my classmates laugh at me because I study a little after coming home from our social events.  Ha ha.  Well, I am a student first!

The goals of the social events is not only for the first years to meet and learn about one another, but also for the first years to meet the flex-time students, second years, and alumni who join us.  It has been a wonderful opportunity to meet the many facets who represent Tepper School of Business. 

With each meeting of a new individual, I learn more about Tepper, about another, and about myself.  The social events have been as much of an education as our challenging QSRP (a.k.a. Math Boot Camp).  Consider how exciting it is to learn Algebra through Calculus I in 3 weeks while socializing in the evenings!  We are prepared to march forward into Mini 1!