WORLD WE IMAGINE Part 1

Initial Reflections:

Reading "The Blue Sweater" really opened my eyes to the powerful story of Jacqueline Novogratz leaving her promising Wall Street career to help alleviate poverty in Africa. Her decision, driven by a deep desire to make a meaningful difference, made me question my own values and the kind of impact I want to have in the world. As a business major at Marshall, I've been caught up in a culture that values high-paying jobs in prestigious firms, focusing on status and what looks good on a resume. However, my experiences in consulting, where I mostly helped big companies grow their profits, have left me wondering if there's more to my career path.

My involvement in projects like the Global Honors Research program, helping MSMEs in Indonesia, and setting up a mental health telemedicine clinic called Love&Time, has shown me the impact that focused, compassionate work can have. These experiences have inspired me to think about how I can use my skills in consulting, healthcare, and marketing to genuinely help others and change lives. Now, I'm considering how I can align my career with these insights to create a positive, lasting impact in the world.

Based on my experience and interests, my ideas for making a difference in the world revolves around two visions to help in developing countries: economic empowerment for MSMEs (micro scale) and mental health support for mothers. 

Economic Empowerment for Micro Enterprises

Vision: Inspired by Jacqueline Novogratz's mission, I envision a future where micro-enterprises, especially in developing countries, thrive by reaching broader markets and streamlining their operations. My goal is to empower these small businesses by helping them starting by understanding their business objectives.

Ideas: 

• Business Training Workshops: I could potentially develop workshops that teach micro enterprise owners how to define clear business objectives, enhance their financial and digital literacy, integrating technology, and understand their market, and plan operations to meet their goals.

Other ideas: marketing and branding initiatives, supply chain optimization, and market expansion. 

Mental Health Support for Mothers

Vision: Recognizing the profound impact of mental health on families, I am committed to improving mental health support for mothers worldwide. This initiative is crucial not only for the mothers’ well-being but also for the developmental and emotional health of their children.

Ideas:

• Telemedicine and Community Clinics: Building on my previous work with the Love&Time project, I plan to extend services to more regions, focusing on accessible mental health care through telemedicine and local clinics.

Other ideas: awareness and education campaigns, and establishing support networks. 

From Reflection to Action: My Journey Ahead

Inspired by Jacqueline Novogratz's transformative journey in "The Blue Sweater," I am driven to reshape my own career path, aiming not only for personal success but to make substantive contributions to global well-being. My commitment to fostering economic empowerment for micro-enterprises and enhancing mental health support for mothers reflects a deep desire to enact real change. Through these ideas for initiatives, I plan to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity in underserved communities.

This vision transcends mere assistance—it's about reimagining how we, as future business leaders, can integrate social responsibility into the essence of our careers. Motivated by the powerful role that business can play in societal improvement, I am eager to challenge the status quo. With dedicated effort and empathetic leadership, I strive to create a world where economic and personal well-being are within everyone's reach, delivering on the promise of a connected global community.

Random Post 2: Yogi & Milo

 For my second Random Blog Post, I want to share the story of my two beloved dogs, Yogi and Milo.

Yogi & Milo: aka "The Boys" 

They are Mini Australian shepherds and actually brothers from different litters! We got them both from an Amish farm, getting Yogi first, then for my 13th birthday, we somehow ended up back at the same farm where we found Milo. 

Looking at these two brothers, some found it hard to believe they came from the same parents since they were total opposites in both looks and personality.

Yogi: (aka Yogs, YogurtCup, Mr. Yogi, Yog-Master, Oddly, Tubbs) 

Yogi was the runt of his litter, a dark grey merle with short stick legs and small paws that somehow supported his tubby, oddly shaped body. With his small snout and brown eyes that had just a fleck of blue in them, he looked like he was stuffed like a sausage - which actually made him the perfect cuddle partner. He was a calm, affectionate, and emotionally-sensitive dog who liked to take life at a slow, easy-going pace. He was wise beyond his years – I like to call him an old soul, and was always there when you needed him (while making sure he got all his itches scratched in return). He loved nothing more than sleeping under the covers with you all night long.

Milo: (aka Meels, Milo-Man, Meats (short for Meatball), Tiddlywinks)

Milo was the perfect example of an Aussie - white merle pattern, slim and athletic with a large snout and big paws, and of course the highly desired heterochromia trait with one brown and one ice blue eye. But don't let his  beautiful eyes fool you - there isn't a thought behind them! He is what we like to call a "forever puppy" who knows nothing but bark and play fetch, most likely because we got him at 8 weeks old which was too young to be separated from his mother (hey, we didn't know! The Amish farmer just wanted to make a quick buck). Unlike his cuddly brother, Milo is a high-energy, attention-seeking, trouble-making dog who absolutely loathes being cuddled.

Together they had an interesting dynamic - the perfect mix of typical brothers and partners in crime. While Milo played fetch at the park, Yogi would be off sniffing the flowers. As you would expect from brothers, they’d have their occasional dragon fights (pictured below). 

Despite these brotherly squabbles, Yogi always took on the role of big brother, doing his routinely brotherly duties to clean Milo after every walk. Milo, when he wasn't trying to annoy his big brother, looked up to Yogi and followed his every move. 

Even though they differed in many ways, they were in the end true brothers, cut from the same cloth. Both loved to eat ice cream and had a shared intense hatred for skateboarders. They were even known as "the boys" at the dog park because they would gang up to herd the other dogs whenever their Aussie instincts kicked in. 

As we all grew up together, their story took many turns - our cat, Rigby entered and left the picture (pictured below), Milo became paralyzed in his back legs (but miraculously fully recovered), and their brief separation period after my parent’s split which helped them develop into their own identities (before reuniting with a stronger relationship than ever).  

Sadly, as I mentioned in my earlier post, Yogi passed last year, which was very difficult for all of us. While I wasn't with Milo after it happened, he too grieved in his own way and had to learn how to navigate the rest of his life without his brother. I can't imagine what he must have felt, but I know Yogi comes down to visit him to let him know he's never alone.

Growing up with Yogi and Milo was one of the best parts of my life. What seemed like opposites - a sensitive soul and an eternal puppy - created this perfect balance in our family, each brother filling in what the other needed. Through all our changes, from childhood to adulthood, from one home to two, they've been there making both the hard times and good times better just by being themselves. Even though Yogi is gone now, I try to be present and cherish every moment I have with Milo, while keeping all our memories - the ice cream sharing, the weekend reunions, the flower sniffing, and endless games of fetch - close to my heart.

Book 2, Post 2

 While I haven't fully finished "Resilient" yet, it has already provided me with eye-opening realizations and practical skills. As mentioned earlier, I was initially skeptical of self-help books since they often preach vague, feel-good advice without substance. However, I'm glad I gave this genre one last chance, as "Resilient" proved my generalizations wrong.

The book is structured around 12 chapters, each focusing on a different inner strength. These are organized by how we fulfill our needs: recognizing what's true, resourcing ourselves, regulating thoughts and feelings, and relating to others and the world.

The Good: 

My favorite chapters have been Mindfulness (Ch 2) and Grit (Ch 4). 

The Mindfulness chapter made me realize how much I operate on autopilot, constantly rushing from one task to another between school, recruitment, and personal responsibilities. When Hanson wrote "the person you are gradually becomes what your attention rests upon," it hit home so hard that I immediately deleted TikTok from my phone. I recognized how much time I spent mindlessly scrolling instead of being present in my own life.

The Grit chapter resonated with me because it addressed something I struggle with - feeling overwhelmed when challenges pile up. Instead of falling into learned helplessness, I've started looking for small ways to take action rather than letting things happen to me. This shift in perspective has already helped me approach my academic and personal challenges more effectively.

The Bad/Ugly (not really): 

While mostly positive, there were moments reading this book that challenged my existing mindset. I sometimes found myself resistant to the idea of being too compassionate with ourselves, probably because I'm used to holding myself to extremely high standards. The book also forced me to confront some uncomfortable truths and memories I'd been avoiding. However, this discomfort proved productive rather than detrimental.

I would recommend this book, especially to those of us about to start full-time jobs. It's better to develop these resilience tools now before getting caught up in the demands of a career. Even if you only have time to skim through, the insights and practical techniques make it worth the read. Just make sure you're mentally prepared for some serious self-reflection.