Emily Tsiang

Zen Garden

Its the last week of Fall B and finals are looming ahead. At 7pm, the Winter Garden is buzzing with groups frantically finishing up term projects and last minute assignments. Coupled with dropping resumes for summer internships, everyone's stress levels are full-fledged.

But step into the Weiser Dining Room and you've transcended into Zen-dom. Nature sounds play overhead. Tea is brewing. Students are getting massages. Really?

Yes, this goodness happens at the end of every Fall term. The Office of Student Life sets up a "Relaxation Station" where you can get a cup of tea and chair massage. And that was exactly what I did in between classes yesterday. Reason #563 I love being at Ross.

Ommmmmmm

Masseuses giving Ross students massages

Partying for a Cause

Have you always wanted to do something, but never really had the gumption to pull it off?

A couple weeks ago, some classmates and I were driving back from the Net Impact conference, and we casually thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if we threw a joint birthday party and raised money for a local charity?" And, as with most ideas, I thought it would have its moment and then quietly slide into oblivion.

But put a bunch of Rossers together and stuff happens.

We got seven MBA1s to "collaborate" and celebrate their birthdays together, asked our classmates to donate a couple bucks in lieu of a drink, partied like rockstars and raised over $1000!

While our little party didn't bring about revolutionary climate change goals, it did help us become a little more neighborly. The money we raised went to THAW (The Heat And Warm Fund), a Detroit-based organization that helps low-income families who can't afford heat during the winter stay warm.

They say that in business school you learn through doing. I left Friday night, totally inspired by the generosity of my classmates and witnessed what happens when a small idea is realized.

Anita Bhat, MBA1, and I

Line dancing in Nashville

Howdy! I’m en route back to Ann Arbor after an amazing two days in Nashville. Six of us were selected from the Organizational Strategy Club to compete in the National Human Capital Case Competition, which was sponsored by Deloitte and Vanderbilt University. Our team was tasked with developing a growth and human capital strategy for Google.

Learning what makes organizations effective and successful was one of the main reasons I decided to go to business school. And I've found case competitions an excellent hands-on learning experience to explore more about possible career paths. While we didn't win, a couple of us are already devising how we're going back next year to bring back the $10,000 prize!

Kicking off our boots in Nashville!