MEMorandum
7
More than a few words...
I am checking my calendar to see how long I have been here because it feels simultaneously long and short. It appears long because I have met a good number of great people, known them on a deeper and less facile level and built what I am hoping would turn out to be solid friendships. At the same time, it appears short and fleeting because for most of these friends, a half of this experience is gone and soon enough, they would be moving on to even greater pursuits. Although that comes with a certain sense of loss it reminds me to appreciate this opportunity and take advantage of every moment.
It is only right that I proceed with the concept of being a Duke student. There is the prestige that comes with being a Dukie, and I must admit, I feel good adorning it. I like to believe that the sneer and grudge exuded by UNC Chapel Hill students ensconced in the darkness and throbbing music of their Top of the Hill bar, when they realize that a Blue Devil is around, is simply intense admiration and acute covetousness. I consider this a Fox and the grapes situation. Quite frankly, I don’t blame them.
But while Duke as a brand is covetous we must not forget the opportunity it actually affords us. There have been opportunities to build the most admirable professional relationships (If you can’t tell, I’m trying really hard to avoid the execrable N-word*). Truly, with the Seminars and workshops I have attended, I have learned quite a bit about the cast of a successful professional and I'm working towards molding myself into that.
For me the MEM program is a well-blended mixture of a strong syllabus and key skill-building activities. I have learned how to interact better with a team to achieve a common goal. After interacting with classmates with work experience, I have been pleased to hear that this program is a miniature representation of the real-world and the skills I have been building through participating in projects, working with the Students Activity Committee, presenting in a class and solving ambiguous Marketing cases are going to help me succeed as a professional. I’m counting on it.
What better way to end this than with C.J Skender? His eccentricities are noteworthy and fascinating. From his covert puns, his recognizable outfit to fascinating routine (He takes off his blazer during the half-time break without fail), it is a pure delight to fall under the sound of his voice. The last 30 minutes of the last Finance lecture was C.J at his finest. In his trademark soft avuncular tone, he dropped pearls of carefully curated wisdom about loving family, living in the moment and trying hard because there is no effort without error. These things are true in the larger scope of real life but also carry some applicability within the M.E.M program too. We have become a family, we have to enjoy this limited time with each other and live in the moment, savoring the Duke experience together (and sometimes alone) and just try to achieve greatness.
I changed my course length from the 2 Semester-track to the 3 Semester-track because I realize there’s so much to enjoy in Duke and the M.E.M, so many lessons to learn, so many people to meet that 2 semesters can't do enough justice to. This is a rare opportunity. I’m grateful for it.
*Just so we’re clear, N-word in this context means "Network"
Orekoya Moyo
Candidate
MEMP, December 2014