YYanshan University is a place where I can learn and grow my knowledge as a scholar, and where I can prepare myself for the professional world. As an MBA student, I want to learn the business, decision making by managers, competition in various markets, and how companies grow successfully. Today, the business landscape is becoming more and more international and I think learning in China can provide me with a more global perspective of the business.It was a big decision to start studying abroad. Moving away from the comfort of home, family, friends and daily life takes courage.
At the beginning, adapting to a new country can be challenging. The language, culture, food, and educational system and social environment can all be different. But these are challenges as well. They guide a person to become independent, patient, responsible and self-confident. Learning in China for me has been more than just doing schoolwork in the university. It has turned into a personal development trip. An MBA is useful because of its knowledge from a large variety of business areas. In business, management, marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, operations, entrepreneurship and business strategy are all interrelated in the real world. A successful manager will not be able to concentrate on just one thing.
One department’s action can impact the entire organization. For instance, a marketing strategy can impact on the sales, sales can impact on the revenue, financial decisions can impact on the expansion, human-resource management can impact on the performance of the employees. If I can gain insight into these relationships, I can be a more well-rounded business professional. I hope to learn more with my MBA on how to make better decisions. In practice, there is no one right answer in the business world. Managers do not always have complete information to make decisions, have to take into account risks, be aware of varying perspectives and make decisions that may be difficult. I can learn to analyse situations and think more like my business partner when making decisions through academic study, business cases, group projects, presentation and discussion.
Discussion at a University event can ultimately result in an internship or job. That’s why I would rather be active than just show up to class and head home. Seminar, workshop and conferences, student activities and professional events can help me to know about the business world
The international atmosphere is another great advantage of studying at Yanshan University. China is a key player in the global economy, and living there provides me the opportunity to learn of China more intimately. I can watch different forms of communication being used, how business is conducted, how technology plays a role in life, and how Chinese and international students communicate with each other. Such experiences can be the source of knowledge not gained from books.
Meanwhile, I recognize that an MBA doesn’t guarantee a great career. The degree can open the doors but I have to figure out myself what do I need to do to be prepared to walk through the doors. Hence, I want to master my college years with the proper utilization of them, gaining both academic knowledge and practical skills .One area that I look at as being very significant is communication. The business professional should be able to communicate effectively with the managers, colleagues, customers, partners and clients. Good communication skills enable the person to communicate ideas, negotiate, resolve problems, present a message and develop working relationships. I want to develop my ability to communicate and write professionally in English, to enable me to operate confidently in an international setting. I also think that it is beneficial to learn Chinese. No matter if I don’t learn to speak the language fluently, knowing the language and culture will give me a better chance of communicating well and showing respect for the country in which I am studying. Language is a way of communicating with people and a way to know people and their thinking.
Also, hands-on will play a vital role in my future. While in the MBA program and after completing the program, I would like to have the opportunity to gain experience by participating in internships, projects, business competitions, research, and other work-related experiences as I am able. It is more meaningful to students if they can relate academic knowledge to real-life contexts. Interested in learning how businesses relate to their employees, customers, competitors, develop products, enter new markets and truly solve problems. There will be multiple directions that I will be able to go with my MBA. Considering my abilities and experience, I can delve into the areas of business development, marketing and sales, project management, operations, international business, consulting, human resources and corporate management.
I am also interested in the possibility of entrepreneurship in the future. An MBA degree can be helpful not just for working within a company, but in comprehending the way to start and run a business. Networking will also be a key element of my future. At university I can meet classmates, professors, professionals and foreign nationals. These connections can come in handy later on. A classmate a day, a business partner a day. A professor can be a source of counsel and/or a student is introduced to a professional opportunity. Discussion at a University event can ultimately result in an internship or job. That’s why I would rather be active than just show up to class and head home. Seminar, workshop and conferences, student activities and professional events can help me to know about the business world. I also wish to create a professional online presence and have valuable connections with individuals that I interact with during my academic studies.
There are further challenges for the future as well. Many industries are transforming with the advent of technology and artificial intelligence, and companies are increasingly relying on digital tools and data. For this reason, I know that my learning should never come to an end after I get my MBA. I will have to keep improving my skill set throughout my career.
I am not looking for just a job post MBA. I want my career to be something that makes me proud that adds value to others and allows me to continue to develop it throughout my career. I believe that knowledge and experiences I acquire these days can be a good base for a successful future if I am patient, hard working, positive and educated.
I am not only getting a degree from Yanshan University, but also learning and growing. It is something that’s a piece of a bigger journey for me and that is a journey towards becoming more able, independent, knowledgeable and prepared for future opportunities and responsibilities.
