#KelleyBIG2016 – Participant Reflection for Week 1

As of Sunday July 3rd, I could not tell you what International Business is, not could paint Chinese characters or successful network for myself. Halfway through BIG and I’ve come very far.

“Business Is Global” is a two-week introduction to business fundamentals, varying culture’s practices, and three different languages. By the end of the program, the other high school participants and I should be able to understand how business, culture, and language coexist on the International Business stage. Each morning starts with a business class taught by a Kelley professor, followed by a language class taught by a native speaker. Our afternoons are split between learning different cultural activities and working in small teams to develop a theoretical business model for our own vending of food in a foreign market. All the while, we get to experience the life of a college student; walking the campus, navigating the food court and exploring all the hidden gems on campus (all closely supervised by our wonderful PA’s).

Week 1 started with a three-day crash course of Mandarin and opportunities to try our hands, and feet, at Chinese pastimes like calligraphy, Mahjong, Chinese jump rope, table tennis, and tai chi. I found lots of luck and fun playing Mahjong, a game using tiles and the luck-of-the-draw. During the Mandarin classes, we are also given advice and tips to observe when conducting business in China. I am now able to correctly introduce myself to senior business officials and properly present them with my business card! The morning business classes have surprised me; I entered the program concerned that the information would be too far over my head and too intensive to grasp and apply in two weeks. The marketing, operations, and finance professors have done a great job of making the classes simple, interactive, and interesting. They teach in relatable ways that resemble my high school classrooms. Many other Kelley professionals have also offered their time to teach us about skills we will need through college and later life.

For me, the best day of BIG has been Friday; the day we started Swahili and went networking. As one with an African family, one who has spent time on the continent, one who aspires to work on the continent, and one who wholly loves the African way of life, I really loved learning words to songs I had listened to as a child and trying my own tongue. Our professor’s energy and mannerisms reminded me of many people I had met on my travels. For me, the class acted as a bridge connecting memories of past experiences to the knowledge that I may need for my work in the future. Swahili class was followed by a networking lunch. My friends and I had the opportunity to sit down and have conversations with college students from various Middle Eastern countries, professors from Kelley, and board members from the Kelley Institute for International Business. I gained valuable insight about life as an International Baccalaureate student, shared conversation and thoughts with young business enthusiasts, and forged connections that I can utilize even after I return home.

The first week of BIG has pushed me to explore new concepts, cultures, and ways of understanding and open-mindedness. It’s all been quite different from what I expected but in a good way. I’ve been able to enjoy learning in a new environment with a group of like-minded peers. I look forward to what Week 2 has to offer!