First day of NO school!

As yet another school year rolls around, and the fall semester begins at the 美国科罗拉多大学博尔德分校 , today marks a significant milestone for me. For the first time in the last 16 years, I won’t be attending school.

I wanted to thank everybody I’ve met along the way, from faculty members to recruiters, volunteers, advisors, food, safety, cleaning crews and many more, and, of course, my college friends! Best of luck to those embarking on this new school year, newly appointed instructors, and professors who are all united by the strive for continuous learning and a passion for education.

My journey at the University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business wouldn’t have been as vibrant if not for the guidance of a few North star-bright professors, whose faith in me has helped me navigate some of the most challenging times I’ve faced to this day. In this post, I wanted to acknowledge them.

Susanna Angeloni Saurini is the professor you need to have even if, as a student, you don’t have an intent to study Italian. After taking her class during my first year at the university, I was inspired to start tutoring international high school students with restricted financial abilities who had a dream of studying at a University in the United States. She was so dedicated to the success of everybody in the classroom that I wanted to embody that trait and pass it along to my students. I had no prior intention of learning Italian before taking her class. Now I am working on making it my fourth language I can fluently speak.

Karen Laszlo has great industry knowledge and a talent for making classes entertaining and easy to enjoy. She has incredible stories to tell about her business practices and they impacted the way I started to approach consulting and entrepreneurial strategy. Anyone fortunate enough to take her class will undoubtedly benefit greatly from her wisdom, and I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to know and learn from her.

W. Bradley Werner is a genius. Anyone who takes a class or encounters him otherwise has an upper hand in understanding the principles of the startup world. He is a dedicated and strong-willed professor and businessman. It is hard to describe the depth of learning he provides to his students without having taken a class of his. Do so, if you’re a current student reading this with an innate passion for building a career in the business realm. Beyond that, he’s also an amazing person, and having encountered him is an experience I will always cherish.

Ken Schuetz has been an invaluable source of insights and wisdom throughout my educational journey. As a professor, he combines his deep knowledge with a heart of kindness, always willing to accommodate and support his students. His pursuits to include me in class discussions helped me engage with fellow classmates and not be afraid of being different from the rest. Based on this alone, I had taken another class of his later in my college career. He is dedicated to the highest academic standards and higher learning, and I am grateful to have received his mentorship.

I took more classes with Dr. Cory Cunningham than I did with anybody else. Dr. Cunningham is a remarkable professor who left an indelible mark on my college experience. Her teaching style is inspiring and relatable, making her courses both enjoyable and engaging. Cory's influence has instilled in me a genuine love for public speaking, and I am forever thankful for the countless times her advice has guided me, both in my academic journey and beyond. She embodies the values of excellence and mentorship that all who teach should aspire to emulate.

As I end this post, I want to express gratitude to Jessie Hughes , and the entirety of the ISSS team, for choosing me as an International Student Recognition Ceremony Speaker on May 12th, 2023. I am deeply honored to leave a lasting mark at this University, just as it has left its mark on me.

Speaking of technology, while it could have been fun to use ChatGPT for this, I deliberately chose not to. Just so this post would not be stripped of character and, perhaps, a few grammar mistakes :) Happy first day of classes!

?