Michigan Ross 100-word essays
I made a difference when I…
I made a difference during the Thai Army’s demolition training course, when my class was reduced from 60 to 30 soldiers after the first test. The next test would be even more difficult and hands-on. Many of the soldiers were nervous because they did not have training aids to practice with, so I ran out that night and bought wire, blocks, and dowels so that they could practice their demolition setups. I finished my own test quickly on test day, and volunteered to help others practice. Many soldiers told me afterward that my help was the main reason they passed.
I am out of my comfort zone when…
I was out of my comfort zone when I was suddenly promoted to my battalion’s operations officer, a position usually reserved for a ranking officer with ten years of experience in other units. I had been in the Thai military only five years and, on top of that, I had never served in a logistics unit before. This new role placed me at a functionally equal level with officers who were technically superior in rank and tenure. I learned to be confident in my own abilities to make myself heard, and received the highest rankings for my performance.
I was challenged when…
I was challenged when, several months into my marriage, my wife and I were stationed together, as officers of the same rank in the same battalion. It was our first time working together as professionals, and now we were directly rated against one another. Our success depended on our competitiveness and eagerness to prove ourselves, and this cause some friction at home. We worked with a counselor at work, and through a combination of personal reflection and a willingness to compromise, we set healthy boundaries and kept work at work: when one of us succeeds, we both succeed.