The first year of college is always challenging, but I was privileged that I was plugged into the GBUS community from the beginning, allowing me to meet and collaborate with amazing people, which then developed into beautiful lifelong friendships. 
 
To describe me in my first year, I would say I was very unprepared, overwhelmed, and lost. While most of my peers had already signed up for different clubs and societies, I only signed up for a Christian fellowship. I was clueless about the other things that were happening around me. But God blessed me with an invitation from two of my GBUS peers, Reuben and Cherry, to join a case competition - L'Oréal Brandstorm. I became close friends with Reuben and Cherry after our cohort went on a study trip to Brazil together that winter. Reuben later told me it was because I "took the risk" and went to a local samba bar with him during that trip (Brazil is quite dangerous for travelers). This led him to believe that we could make a good team together. 
 

While everyone was eyeing the prizes in the competition - a fully sponsored trip to Paris and a chance to compete in the international finals- we focused much on perfecting our idea. Barely having any experience in case competitions or pitching, we faced obstacles head-on and kept learning new skills to improve our proposal. In just four months, we learned how to develop app prototypes, use photoshop and AI, and forged ourselves into becoming somewhat experts in dermatology (the competition was about innovating the skincare experience for L'Oréal consumers). Fortunately, our hard work paid off, and the next thing we knew, we were on a plane to Paris for the international finals. 
 
Subsequently, I responded to L'Oréal's invitation and joined the company as a marketing intern. The role was quite demanding as I had to analyze large datasets and help my manager overlook the process of launching new products in the APAC markets. I also assisted in designing the marketing materials and 3D drawings for the shelving displays. If I knew what was required for the role, I probably wouldn't have the courage to take the job, but the same goes for every situation; I was pushed to learn and adapt quickly, and do something I thought I couldn't do. 
 
Many people may simply see GBUS as a prestigious major where students receive a lot of opportunities. Still, I genuinely believe that it is the opposite; we create opportunities for ourselves. We do our best to make it our moment. I have met many talented individuals in our major working on amazing projects in different fields beyond my imagination, from design and fashion to AI and entrepreneurship. I thank God for placing me in such a diverse and inspiring community that encourages me to dream bigger every day.