When you arrive here or you are leaving Boston maybe you will feel the Final Stress.

Today I was walking down the infinite corridor when I found some volunteers giving information about what to do in times of stress . And now it is clear that most of us are living this situations , because we are leaving, because we are arriving, because we are about to experience a great change in our lives and in our families organization. Here you have some recommendations that give the experts and I think we need to follow :

Top 10 ways to Manage Final Stress

1. Make a to-do list

Write down everything that needs to get done, breaking tasks into a smaller parts and spreading them out.

2. Avoid people who will stress you out

Every one is working hard, don’s make a competition to see who is more stressed.

3. Talk to someone who can help

4. Get enough sleep

It will keep you alert and attentive and gives you energy for studying. 8 hours is ideal! (for those who ha
ve kids that is a little bit difficult but try it with the help of your partner)

5. Exercise and eat well

Don’t forget about your health! Exercise is a stress buster (take exercise like a course you have to do in your MBA) , and healthy eating will give you more energy. Try to have a balance food every day (fruits, veggies, fish…) you will feel better.

6. Attend Study breaks

They are everywhere, take advantage of them!

7. Practice relaxation techniques

Exercises like deep breathing and meditation ara proven to reduce anxiety. You can find guided meditations here.

8. Think positively

Rather than worry about the past , focus on the steps you can take to improve your performance now. Visualize your self doing well on the exam, on your life, on your family…

9. Don’t be afraid to say no

The most iimportant word: NO

10. Reward yourself

Have some fun and kep your motivation up by rewarding yourself after a study session or exam, go for a walk to the river, watch a movie or catch up with friends.

We were celebrating new year which is the biggest holiday in Ukraine while my husband Artem received an e-mail with acceptance to MIT. This was something he really was craving for. He was extremely happy and confident that he is going to go forward with it. My feelings were a bit controversial…

On one hand I was very happy and proud of my husband, but on the flip side of that I was facing a difficult decision to make for myself. I had a very successful carrier, being a global marketing director of a large international company.

Obviously my husband was wishing me to join him in Boston, but I was very skeptical.

Artem was telling me that the partners will also have a great experience and that I will find a lot to do there. I was jokingly replying: “what will I do there? Sewing classes? Cooking classes? English courses? Are you kidding me?”.  We have arranged a phone call with SF 13 couple from Georgia to talk all the details. I was laughing hard as I found out that main activities organized were in fact English classes, cooking and sewing classes. On the bright side I discovered other opportunities like joining Harvard extension school and found out that many MIT events (not classes) are open for partners. I had to make a choice and I was not ready to quit my job yet.
In the end decision was made via the power of the circumstances: war started in my country and hostile take over of my company took place literally at the same time.

So I packed my bags and went with my husband to explore this new life.  There were days when I felt home sick, job sick and maybe sometimes even a bit depressed but there was not a single day when I felt regrets regarding the decision  made.

What I did in Boston?

Surprisingly for myself I did take cooking classes and what was even more surprising I absolutely enjoyed it! I learned how to do sailing and puddle boarding, I did a lot of sports in general – MIT has great facilities for that. I was learning Spanish and French, I was teaching yoga, I have attended many events and conferences at MIT and Harvard, I was doing documentary movie about Ukraine, working on my startup ideas and what is the  most important I was preparing my application for MBA for next year.

Now when the year is almost over I can confidentiality say that it was one of the best years in my life! What made it so awesome? I guess we were very lucky with our cohort – friendships were made for life! Everyone was active and volunteering to do something for the community. Most of the events were created by people volunteering to do something for others – something they do well, something that their country is proud of sharing their culture and aspirations.

Additionally we had a chance to explore the US: we traveled to Savanna with its incredible forests, Charleston with its colonial history, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park driving to Las Vegas via Death Valley, San Diego and its beautiful beaches, Acadia national park in Main, a pearl of Caribbean Puerto Rico as well as surroundings of Boston with great beaches in summer and ski resorts in winter.

Finally in March I was accepted to MIT. This has made the year even more exceptional and granted  me certainty for the future.

I am greatful to everyone who made this year so special for me!

 

FoMO is “a pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent”. While you are at MIT there are so many interesting things happening at the same time, that you have to be able be ok with missing some of the cool events, speakers and opportunities around you.

Nonetheless these  are the top 5 things that you should not miss out as a Sloan Fellow at MIT

 

1. Tim Muddy talks & Beers

In addition to learning about your classmates life and experiences, Tim Muddy talks remind you of the importance of gratitude and humility. After the Tim Muddy Fellows meet that the Muddy Charles to enjoy beers and share their stories.

2. Sloan Fellows Private C Functions

The Sloan Fellows Private C Function is a great way for fellows from a specific country or region to share their culture with the rest of the cohort. Getting involved in this event is a great way to experience first hand another country’s traditions and get out of your confort zone.

3. Life outside Sloan

I encourage you to explore MIT outside Sloan. It is a unique experience to be immerse in the MIT ecosystem and to learn about the amazing things that are being created. Think of it as studying the future…. Below Professor Lozano and his small satellites.

4. Living as a student again

Being a student again comes with amazing benefits. You can participate in club activities and feel like a teenager again again… our Slow Fellows Soccer team was great fun during the year.

5.  Fellows and their families