Disconnected

Second year has so far been a process of disconnecting. Most of my classmates 'are so over Rotman' and its a tug of war between being ready to leave (there is the high school element) and remembering that for most of us, this is our last run at school life, from here on out the only new tuition bills (after paying off the old student loan) will be our kids (gasp!).

I can't help but think that we might be wishing our lives away, some frustrating things about school shouldn't out weigh the regular Tuesday nights, the school events like Grad Ball, and our recent Rotman vs Schulich Charity Hockey Game. It's been a good run, and I am looking forward to work for a lot of reasons, but I am also really enjoying the present.

Needless to say, I like many of my classmates, feel disengaged from school, investing time in re-decorating my apartment (starting with a paint job and a new couch) and catching up with friends and family.

As I am starting a demanding full time career, I know that the little free time I have, I'll want to be comfortable in a grown-up apartment. I also know that if I leave my place as is now (futon, no bed frame, miss-matched second-hand furniture that is very functional, but feels like a student apartment) than I'll wake up 30 and still living in the same student apartment.

Remember in undergrad when that chair you found on the street seemed like the best idea ever? In grad school, even perfectly good furniture has started to remind me of that chair from undergrad. Hence the quest for new stuff. That is one of the many wonderful things about Rotman second year. With most of my club duties in the past, and a slightly lighter work load (4 classes instead of 5), I have some time to invest in the overhaul of my apartment.

Another great thing, I am taking this upcoming family day weekend and going to see family (who knew?)! Looking forward to the chance to catch up and chill out (Toronto can be a bit faced-paced sometimes, so it will be nice to take it easy!)

I realize I haven't done a what classes I am taking this semester update - so I'll list them here and revisit with some thoughts on them at a later date!

Fall Semester:
Top Managers Perspective
Business Analysis and Valuation
Taxation and Decision Making
Financial Management
Financial Distress and Insolvency

Winter Semester:
Competition and Strategy in Creative Industries
Management of Fixed Income Securities
Game Theory in Economics
Mergers & Acquisitions

Random Update

It's now been a while since my last blog post on 'life at Rotman,' I am guilty of having too much fun to be posting about it. In an effort to reminisce, I was reading through some of my old blog posts and realize I have probably given the impression (due to lack of posting) that nothing happens in second year!
That couldn't be farther from the truth. While every single student has a different experience, there is a lot to be said for being a second year student at Rotman high.
Student experience varies depending on some/ all of the following:

• whether you choose to do an exchange
• whether or not you sign up for a study tour
• are taking a full course load, or lightened it with summer classes/ intensives
• whether you are involved either peripherally or in a leadership role with school clubs/ graduate business council
• if you have a job lined up for after graduation
• if you are already working part time, despite being a full time student
• if you are taking mini-trips to take advantage of the lighter work load
  
• whether or not you are taking classes you find genuinely engaging, or simply the same classes as your friends, or the classes that allow you to sleep til noon every day and/or have a 5 day weekend
  

Obviously each of these decisions will have an impact on your Rotman experience, and can improve or damage the experience accordingly.

My run down is that I did not go on exchange (having just moved to Toronto, I feel like I am already mixing it up a bit), I went on a study tour last year, am in a leadership position in the finance association, have a job lined up, am not yet working, have a couple of mini trips planned as a result of my 4 day weekend and am taking classes that are both interesting and fit the schedule, have friendly faces to work with and will hopefully help me in my career.

An interesting second year phenomena is seeing students in your class that you've never seen before, and having students you use to see all the time disappear. I believe this is a function of the amount of class time required in second year, and therefor the reduction in hours in which anyone is in the building.

A couple of highlights so far:

• Taking the winter break and actually being on break (if I don't count helping out with some of the summer recruiting prep....)
  
• Working with the student clubs, specifically the RFA (the very prominent pay-it-forward mentality at Rotman was evident in my classmates and appreciated by the 2012 class, so hope they pay it forward next year!)
  
• Having the time to go see the family for thanksgiving, and not spending the whole weekend working!
  
• Finally buying myself a proper couch! Bye bye Futon!
• Having Tipsy Tuesday be a regular event that most of us can attend!
  

I am sure my posts will continue to be as sporadic over the next few months as they were the first half of the year, but hopefully provide some insight into the second year experience...