Living
in an environment where people have their own idiosyncrasies is not new to
me. I was born and raised in an
archipelago where almost every island has its own language, its own culture,
and its own attribute. I must say that
being engrossed in this kind of diverse society is already a prelude to the
kind of environment that Hult has to offer given its worldwide presence. Perhaps, this is an avenue for me to share innate
or acquired skills that I personally possess.
For
almost seven years, I have struggled juggling both work and studies at the same
time. It was a tedious lifestyle yet
perfectly fulfilling which has brought great transformation in me. Working at night in several Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) companies dealing with other nationalities and attending
class discussion in the morning was my daily routine. Conflict is inevitable in terms of which
should I pour in more attention – food for the brain or my
bread-and-butter. Inherently resilient,
I was able to master time management to cope with this challenging life. Making compromises was common so as to
augment the shortcomings every time I sacrifice one for the other. I set flexible
schedule which I adhere to and if circumstance warrants, then necessary
adjustment is done. I employed the
so-called ‘power of now’ and procrastination is taboo since it would definitely
have repercussions. Oftentimes, I
prioritized things that are urgent and even did cost-benefit analysis.
Doing
a collaborative work with people of diverse profile is another salient
concern. Through the years of
interaction with different nationalities at work or in school, I have developed
the skill of building rapport and camaraderie.
I usually go beyond the extra mile of learning laconic expressions of
different major languages just to bridge the gap. I suppose it emanates from the strong
inclination I have for learning different cultures across the globe. On the other hand, my rich cultural
background and knowledge of my own native land as well as its neighboring
countries can deepen the understanding and appreciation of those people with
the same passion. It is also one way of
promoting my homeland thereby educating people about its beauty and uniqueness.
Another
valuable trait that I am proud of and I can impart to my colleagues would be
the high motivation I have for success.
Since I was child, I consistently bring honor to my family and school by
bagging numerous awards which I was able to do so even in the workplace may it
be academics, sports, or dance competitions.
But I am cognizant that it would not be possible without the support and
encouragement I get from others. In
return, I selflessly inspire people to strive harder or simply bring out the
best in them. The more I share myself to
others, the more I appreciate my purpose and the skills God has bestowed upon
me.
Having
prominently highlighted the skills that I can contribute, I certainly believe
that most of the people that I will be dealing with also have their own unique
skills. Coming from different countries,
I envision myself being influenced in some way or another by these people. In terms of how it will impact my life would
really depend on how receptive I am of their influences. To some extent, possible conflict of
viewpoints may be imminent and sometimes it is healthy since it opens the door
for discussion. There has to be a
continuous assimilation process to evade hostility due to clashing views. As to how it can be done, I guess it is a
matter of mutual respect and a give-and-take relationship. Undoubtedly, taking up the MBA program at
Hult with a collection of cultures will assist me in getting a better grasp of
my own culture and the others. It will
develop a deeper sense of nationalism on one hand and bridging the gap amongst the
students on the other.
One
remarkable influence which I would like to underscore is the idea that all
classroom discussion will be an amalgamation of various perceptions peculiarly
shaped by each other’s ingenuity and distinctiveness which will positively help
me become more globally competitive. Knowing
first-hand experiences from people working in a totally different environment
or personally running their own business is very helpful in terms of learning
the peculiarity of the different markets.
Finally, being able to work in a multicultural-oriented environment will
indubitably hone my skills and even develop further skills pertinent in running
business in a global scale.
