Tag Archives: Fullbridge

The Fullbridge Program: Closing Day and Final Thoughts

Posted on by
Reply

Finally, we reach the ultimate day of the Fullbridge Program and my last post on the topic.

In all honesty, the morning started off quite hectic. All of us rushed to pack our luggage, and transport it to a holding area. The situation was very much an “every wo/man for him/herself” kind of situation. I ended up showing up a tad late, since I didn’t have the luxury of a car to transport my items.

After that, I entered the conference room as inconspicuously as possible. Luckily for me, people were still mingling casually around the room. A light breakfast array greeted us in the conference room, with basic staples like orange juice, coffee, ice water, bagels, and fresh fruit.

In the conference room, I joined my colleagues in chatting with our guests. Students were free to sit at any table, regardless of team associations. Our business guests were encouraged to disperse themselves evenly throughout the room, with no more than one per table. Eventually, we took our seats and our coaches made introductions on behalf of The Fullbridge Program. We then went around the room and had everyone– coaches, students, and business representatives alike– deliver 30-second elevator pitches. I would post a photo of mine, but I looked super awkward. Oops.

The last day of The Fullbridge Program featured guests from a range of different businesses and companies. This included Intel, American Widow Project, and ID, to name a few. Because the program’s participants number fewer than 30, we were able to engage company representatives in face-to-face conversations.

I was particularly impressed by several students who thought to print out copies of their resume for the conference. One student actually had his own business cards, having acquired them from a previous job or internship experience. I wondered to myself whether such actions were over-the-top audacious or just insanely brilliant– perhaps a little bit of both. I even ventured to pose this question to one of the business reps at my table, only to receive a rather neutral response. “It depends,” I was told. Apparently it worked, because my fellow Scripps colleague and blogger, Daysha, landed an internship position with entertainment company, ID.

The day’s main event featured the presentation of each group’s business pitch, followed by questions from the audience (business reps) and answers from the orators (students). Overall, I think we all performed well; and I know my team felt good about our work.

Later on, students were given the chance to ask questions of the business reps panel sitting at the front of the room. Some people asked about start-ups v. more established businesses, which made sense since both types of companies were in the room. The rest of the day went by rather quickly, and returned back to a sort of casual mingling.

With work over, we relaxed and had a bit of fun. Awards were passed out, speeches made, and then it was time to depart. Since then, my team and I have kept in contact through a viber group chat. Some have come out to Claremont to visit and my friend Katie (pictured below) recently came to visit me while on her last day of spring break. Overall, these two weeks turned out to be a rather productive and exciting winter break. Thanks for reading!

IMG_20140117_211235

a final pic with Team Podemos 🙂

IMG_20140117_210846

my friend, Katie, from Oxy, and me

 

IMG_20140117_211150

Claremont Colleges represent at the Fullbridge Program

Click here for more photos by Oxy photographer.

Fullbridge Program: A Day off Work and More

Posted on by
Reply

This post will highlight the last four days before the concluding day with the Fullbridge Program. Spoiler alert: There will be lots of fun pictures in this post.

1/12/14 On Sunday, everyone was glad to receive a full day off from work. But it wasn’t all fun and games. We also had to pack for our move from the dorms to the alumni house, as students were returning from their winter break and moving back into the dorms. As for fun, some people went out to visit the Griffith Observatory as well as LACMA and other popular tourist attractions. As for myself, I explored the neighborhood with a friend of mine and went hiking for a few hours.

IMG_20140112_134559_903-1

discovered this awesome art design while exploring the area

1/13/14 Monday’s work day started at 9:30 A.M. instead of 9 A.M. due to our moving schedule. Those who had brought their cars made room for everyone’s luggage, making several trips back and forth. Lunch was also pushed back to 1:30 P.M., which made me glad I had brought snacks to munch on throughout the day. In addition to moving house, we also split up our teams and worked with new people, with a focus on buyer-seller interaction skills. But Jennifer and I remained roommates after the move.

IMG_20140105_203328

chilling with my roommate, Jennifer, in our dorm at Oxy

1/14/14 Tuesday had us working on presentations yet again, with another encounter with the Starbucks company. We worked in our usual teams of five. Later on, we updated our resumes and gave each other feedback on them. Although somewhat tedious, I appreciated the chance to look over my resume again, as I had not touched it since my first year at Scripps. Today, I’m proud to announce I have about 10 different resumes tailored for a variety of fields.

IMG_20140113_163925-1-1

coincidentally wore shades of red and maroon on the same day= perfect photo opp

1/15/14 Wednesday marks one of my favorite days because we all got to know each other better through the career and values exercise. In fact, I wish we had started out with this project on one of the earlier days. Divided into new teams, we explored a number of career and lifestyle options. At the end, I felt satisfied to learn that the exercise verified my need for independence and freedom, whatever career path I pursued in the future.

IMG_20140111_193421_835

hanging out in downtown LA and getting to know new people

1/16/14 A guest speaker from Cairo, Egypt came to visit us on Thursday to offer words of advice based on her own business experiences. Emira spoke about her experience as Muslim woman from the Middle East, and her travels throughout Africa, South Africa, United States, and the UK. The advice that resounded most strongly with me was her reminder that we should not expect “the perfect job” straight out of undergrad.

Here’s a preview of our last day at the Fullbridge Program– and the last post on on the subject by yours truly.

IMG_20140117_135231_219

taking silly pictures with the team 😛

Fullbridge Program Day 5: Delivering Business Pitches

Posted on by
Reply

Today, I’ll pick up the itinerary again and move on to day five. Speaking of itineraries, it suddenly occurred to me it might be helpful to share the actual Fullbridge schedule we followed. Each day’s work became accessible to us only on the day of, but not beforehand. Looking at my calendar may provide you with better insight into the topics and goals of the Fullbridge Program.

(Click on the image for a closer look.)

Screenshot 2014-03-27 21.18.07

As for day five, we each worked individually on a simulated business proposal. Given pre-made spreadsheets, we figured out calculations using Excel, occasionally consulting each other when necessary. I personally found the mathematical assignments the most challenging of all our work; many of my colleagues voiced similar opinions.

After finishing our PowerPoint presentations, we practiced delivering our pitches within our teams. Our coaches made their rounds, sometimes stopping in for a friendly check in. Looking back on notes and documents from my work today, I came across the short response I wrote for the task:

reflection on my presentation:

“I think my presentation turned out better than I had anticipated. I did not feel overly nervous and my team was receptive and friendly. I asked my teammates about concerns I had with my presentation. For example, I was relieved to hear that I had not talked too quickly, which is an issue I have struggled with before in the past. Visually, the slide layout and images were appealing, and useful. However, I did not include any numbers, which would have greatly enhanced my presentation. In addition, I was told that the words I had used to shape a real-life environment—that of a Chief Marketing Officer addressing the board of two new founders—were effective and engaging. The audience was able to take on the role of the characters because I addressed them as such. And my polished manner helped my audience take me seriously as a professional.” (1-9-14)

Back in the main room, one representative from each group presented in front of everyone. Some of my colleagues volunteered to speak; others were chosen at random by the coaches.This exercise would be beneficial for those who wish to improve upon their oratory skills. Coaches and colleagues alike offered praise and constructive criticism in response. I have to admit– I was keenly impressed at how professional and well-spoken everyone was.

How do you feel about giving presentations? Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in-between? What would you like to improve on most?

Fullbridge Overview

Posted on by
Reply

Over the next few days of The Fullbridge Program, I found myself busier than usual, with less time for journaling than usual. So instead of continuing the itinerary today, I will be taking a slight detour before returning back to the usual format of my narrative. In this post, I will try to list an overarching set of pros and cons I noticed and heard from my colleagues during The Fullbridge Program. Keep in mind this is a subjective list, and is solely my own opinion.

Work Day: The amount of information you learn is up to you, and may also depend on the prior knowledge with which you enter the program. Coaches make themselves available to you all day long, so feel free to drop by with any questions or concerns. My coaches were approachable and friendly. On another note, I recommend bringing a bottle of water or a thermos of tea with you every day, and perhaps a snack as well.

Free time: After six P.M., we were free to roam around and make the most of our free time. Most of us usually headed straight to the dining hall, often sitting with other Fullbridge participants. The coaches and guests joined us at times, more so during lunch than at dinner though. Back at the dorms, people watched movies, seniors worked on thesis, and generally did whatever it is college students do during the school year.

Here’s a pic of some of us hanging out after work:

IMG_20140115_111423

Food: Personally, I was quite pleased with the food selection. Oxy opened up one dining hall, which served a variety of food, from custom-made sandwiches to salmon burgers. Breakfast foods, such as yummy French toast sticks, were often offered even during lunch. And the open fridge was well-stocked with typical drinks as well as more expensive choices such as aloe vera, Naked juice, and coconut water. Vegetarian options varied by day; the salad bar is always available.

Accommodations: I would describe the residence halls as quite standard, with two twin-XL beds and two desks each. Blankets and pillows were provided by Oxy, though these weren’t adequate enough in the winter chill, even in So-Cal. On an average day, the temperature in Los Angeles drops below the average in Claremont. We were split up into doubles and triples, and all lived on one floor. Everyone shared two bathrooms on the same floor, which worked out without any trouble. Each room controls its own A/C. People tended to hang out in one person’s room to play cards or whatnot. Kitchens were open, but quite vacant. Oxy sports teams also occupied the residence hall, but we had little interaction with them. I didn’t check out the laundry room; I assume they were fine, since I didn’t hear any complaints. The campus’ terrain contains minor slopes and hills, so I did a lot of walking uphill in my dress shoes.

Transportation: To my surprise, several students brought their cars with them to campus. People sometimes drove out to the nearby CVS, and even out to Griffith Observatory on our one day off. Within walking distance, the downtown area offers a selection of stores, cafes, and shops. During the year, students have access to Bengal buses, but these weren’t available to us since it was winter break at the time.

Have any further questions? Comment below and I’ll answer them in my next post. 🙂

Fullbridge Day 4: Consider the “Typical” 8-Hour Work Day

Posted on by
Reply

To my readers, I would like to ask: How many of you are currently considering a career in business? And what do you imagine a “typical,” eight-hour work day to look like?

As I sit in front of the computer typing this up, I find myself surprised at the sparse amount of information I recorded just four days into the program. The fact is, working                      a so-called “typical” work day often lends itself to boredom, as I learned during my time with the Fullbridge Program.

Continuing with the theme of finance, day four focused on the income statement and the balance sheet. While I enjoy economics and business, I found some of the material to be a bit dry. Another day in front of the computers didn’t raise much excitement among us. On a random tangent, I will admit I was pleasantly surprised to notice many students (including myself) jotting down notes by hand. In the day of rapid technological advancement, I worry sometimes that everything’s gone digital all at once.

Much to everyone’s relief, today was also our first (and only) “casual day.” I actually shocked myself by showing up in sweatpants and a top, sneakers, and a beanie. For those who know me, this is not my usual attire. Appreciating “the little things in life” indeed.

On this day, I also found myself amazed by how quickly a one-hour lunch break comes and goes. Lunch seemed like a great relief the first few days; but by day four, the break became just another part of the usual routine.

Sitting in front of a computer eight hours a day, with a one-hour lunch break in-between, for the fourth day in a row, gave me perspective on what it would be like to have a desk job. If such were the case, I would invest in a comfortable chair. This is not a joke. Health and wellness must be taken into consideration, especially when one maintains a sedentary work life such as this. It is important to consider the cost/benefit of a particular career path, particularly since many require you to work upwards from a low-level desk job.

And aside from work, you may find it worthwhile to continue a hobby or sport of your liking– if only to maintain your sanity. But with one’s busy schedule, who has the time? Even as college students, we constantly struggle to balance a life of social interactions, academics, health, and sleep, to name a few. The particulars vary with each individual, but the idea holds true for most.

I strongly encourage you to figure out what a balanced lifestyle means to you, so as to be better prepared for the “real world” out there. The motley of clubs and activities we juggle in undergrad may be more than we can handle later on in life. Choosing to prioritize marriage, family members, and/or a time-heavy career will only add to this equation.

My purpose in sharing these thoughts is not to discourage you. Rather, I am trying to provide honest and realistic insight into the probability that you will one day work a job at which repetition may very well be the norm. You may wake up around the same time every day, receive a one-hour lunch break, go to the gym, take care of the kids, so on and so forth. Before you know it, a routine will start to develop– probably for the sake of efficiency and productivity. 

So while we’re still in college, I hope we can pause and take a moment to appreciate the freedom and spontaneity with which we can approach life.