I just got back from attending the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, WI for the last two weeks. It was an amazing learning experience that I will never forget. I met bankers from all over the U.S. and even from other countries such as Mexico, St. Lucia, Mongolia, and Egypt. I will be going back the next two summers to complete the program. Besides banking, I learned a lot more about people in general. We were placed in a freshman dorm at the University and basically lived the “freshman live” for those two weeks. Needless to say, I had very interesting experiences since I really never stayed on campus when I first started my college journey. The drinking that goes on is beyond what I had imagined. I can see now how the young college students can get hooked in that life style. The key is to choose friends wisely.
As a banker and Christian professional, I felt the responsibility to be an example and not drink as much as the rest of the group. I immediately felt the peer pressure to drink and not care about the surroundings. It was hard to make choices and decisions on the spot about what to do, where to go, and who to hang out with. After the excitement of being on a college campus again wore off, must people settled down with a small group and just went out to dinner or studied together for the exams. However, there were some small groups that continued the drinking each night even though their bodies were complaining by the end of the second week. There was one lady that broke her ankle on the curb while walking and at the hospital they could not give her pain killers because she had too much alcohol in her blood. That was probably not a good experience!
Overall, it was an incredible experience that I would not want to miss. However, next year I will go with my eyes more open and will choose my friends carefully. I believe in making meaningful relationships so I rather spend more time with fewer people to get to know them well, than little time with many more people and come back with no new friendships. I will stay in touch with my new friends and hope to make some life-long friendships. I encourage you to nurture your friendships and spend time with your loved ones.
When I got back I was also very thankful for my life “back home.” I’m thankful for my husband, my children, my job, and everything that God has given me. I don’t take anything for granted.