Michigan Ross 100-word "I was ...." essays

Michigan Ross Three 100-word "I was ____" I made a difference when…. I launched an Information Center in Chimbote, Peru, leading a team of 25 volunteers – community leaders, teachers and students. We bought and renovated a building in the public square and created an action plan for the new center. I trained five volunteers in project management to ensure the project would remain sustainable after I left, and won a $10,000 grant from the Peace Corps to support it. The center has been active since November 2021, and provides books, computers, internet access, and educational- and career-related programming, and is now used by over 300 children and adults each week.

I was humbled when…. I immersed in Peruvian culture for my role in the Peace Corps. I first realized I was out of my depth at a village celebration of a new birth, when the mother invited me to kiss the newborn’s head. I politely declined, worried about spreading germs to the baby. A Peruvian friend immediately pulled me into the kitchen and told me that I had offended the mother; not kissing the baby was synonymous with withholding my well-wishes. It was humbling as I recognized knowledge gaps like this, and I learned to rely on others for help understanding a new culture.

I was challenged when…. I was injured during varsity track training, and could no longer compete as a college athlete. Having been ranked 8th nationally in cross-country, I was devastated. The challenge I faced was to find equally compelling ways to reinvest my athletic energy. When I interned that summer at McKinsey, I was delighted to discover that strategizing for companies was often as exciting as playing sports. The following fall, I harnessed the experience to launch the Hoople State Consulting Club. Helping my classmates pursue consulting careers was a satisfying redirection for the energy I once used on the sports field.