Coming to Ivey offers many opportunities – the chance to challenge your assumptions, discover who you really are, and set the foundation for your career. But if you’re a new HBA1 student entering Ivey for the first time, juggling these opportunities can no doubt be a source of stress, with classes to attend, friends to make, and a future to figure out. We asked those who have been there before you to offer advice. There was a common theme to their responses: You’ve got this! Read on for advice from HBA2 students Alina Adamesco, Will Blaha, Ben Boulanger, Maguire Hampson, and Saylor Sprenger, who are all members of the HBA Association, and watch the video above for more.
Maguire Hampson's tip – Get involved
Whether you join an industry-related club to learn new skills, or dedicate time to activities that fulfill your personal interests, Maguire Hampson says to make room for extracurriculars so you’ll grow as a person and have a richer experience. He should know. As Vice President of Events for the HBA Association, he’s involved with everything from the opening gala to end-of-year activities and everything in between.
“Being involved is, without a doubt, the best way to make the most of your Ivey experience,” he said.
Will Blaha's tip – Focus on relationships
Working in teams is a big part of the Ivey experience and can set the foundation for lifelong relationships. Will Blaha says to make time to make friends and memories because they’ll be with you long after you exit Ivey’s doors.
“It’s always important to prioritize getting to know your classmates and section mates on an interpersonal level, even when there is a time constraint, because these are the relationships you’ll have years after you leave the School,” he said. “And when working on teams, take time to relax and destress with your team mates and this will lead to the best outcomes for your team.”
Saylor Sprenger's tip – Make your voice heard
Contribution is an intimidating, but important part of your learning in the classroom – so don’t hesitate to get started.
“Get it out of the way right off the bat and it’s going to be so much easier moving forward,” says Saylor Sprenger. “Think to yourself, Am I contributing something that’s meaningful to the conversation, or am I just repeating what someone else said? Try and be controversial – contradict someone’s opinion – that is always a learning opportunity for everyone involved.”
Ben Boulanger’s tip – Be yourself
You might all be taking the same program, but each student will navigate it in a personal way. Ben Boulanger’s advice is to keep in your own lane and focus on what you need to stay on course instead of following what others are doing.
“What everyone else is doing is not necessarily going to work best for you,” he said.
That said, there are some fundamentals that can help you with studying, such as breaking up the work into small parts.
“Compartmentalize your studying into small digestible steps. Taking it one step at a time is going to allow you to succeed better than doing it all at once,” he said.
Alina Adamesco's tip – Prioritize work-life balance
It’s easy to get stressed out about grades and your coursework – after all, you came to Ivey to get a degree. But maintaining your health is as important as maintaining your grades, so be sure to dedicate time to yourself.
“One piece of advice I was given when I went to university was to try and prioritize certain days of the week for myself. So I’d make sure to get all my work done so I can go out and do what makes me happy. It’s different for everybody so you have to find what works best for you,” says Alina Adamesco. “While we are here for school, we are also here to better ourselves as people and that’s only going to happen if you are prioritizing your own mental health and well-being.”
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