On here since I was 12
I started browsing WSO around ~10 years ago when I was in middle school. I am currently a senior on the cusp of graduation with an IB offer on a full-ride. Coming from a working-class background, I always dreamt about not worrying about paying the rent or going on international vacations - probably went a bit over my expectations with this career. It goes without saying that I would not be where I am without this website.
For someone who didn't have much, it feels nice to be flown out for interviews or to have a car ride waiting for you after work. My dad works longer hours than I and gets paid so much less. Obviously, it won't be easy going forward, but it is crazy to say that I reached my goal. These past few years, I have been in rooms and met people my 6th-grade mind would never imagine was possible. From all the threads and posters I stalked about college admissions, what interview attire to get, or how to open a Roth IRA, thank you all.
How did you even know about investment banking as a middle schooler lmao.
Lol it was unironically a combination of watching Wolf of Wall Street and being from NYC.
Jesus lol, I mean kudos for you. In a similar boat with loan and really need to make my education worth it. Fortunately got into two processes already for summer 2027 and hopefully I can convert.
What school did you go to?
holy hell bro I check those two boxes as well and didn’t know about WSO until my soph year
:) love to see it
Glad to see it. Remember this feeling. Remember that you wanted this.
The next few years will be hard and there will be times you want to quit, but if you’re working with the right team, it does get better. Use what you’re feeling now to your advantage — the better you remember this feeling, the more likely you are to persevere.
Good luck!
US version of Gary 'the geezer' Stevenson
I literally didn’t even know what IB was until sophomore year in college.
Congratulations and definitely take this time before starting FT to stop and enjoy the moment.
My unsolicited advice as someone in a similar situation to you (albeit, I didn’t start thinking abt IB until college) is to write out the goals you want to achieve over the next 3, 5 or 10 years.
These should be goals / milestones you hope to achieve in all aspects of your life not just work (this will help you remain well rounded).
As you’re aware, what you’re walking into is a grind and can / will consume you entirely if you don’t remember your “why”.
Best of luck on your next chapter mate
Appreciate you - will say it is a bit hard thinking of my goals post "this" (IB and graduating), but I guess this is the perfect time to figure it out.
Fully understand (I think most struggle with "what's next" - even those in the industry multiple years) and truth is you'll never 100% know. However, the more you think about the, the more you can "line up the goal posts" for where you wanna go.
Godspeed sir
How did you learn about WSO at 12? I learned about IB and found this site when I was in college.
Good luck in your career. Remember that it's just the start. Also, remember that all these C-suite people are just people, so there's no reason to idolize them - a lot of them are not really even that smart and oftentimes small people way below them know more. It's just all about relationships and luck when it comes to leadership positions.
Thank you! I decided to apply to prep / boarding schools at the time and went down the application forums. One of them made the joke about the "Andover -> Harvard -> GS" pipeline. Did not know what GS was back then, and ended up here.
Also, agreed - eight years in private school, I now see a lot of these people were just born lucky and went through the paths expected of them / what their parents did. No one is necessarily smarter. I feel somewhat confident in my 'belonging', something I struggled with earlier as the poor kid in boarding school.
Wow, CONGRATS! that's crazy and makes me feel EVEN older. Realize now the students using the forum could theoretically be my own kids if I had had kids earlier. Congrats and agree to make sure you try to keep perspective and if things ever get too hard in IB, you can always find a way out and reality is not as scary as it seems... Good luck!
Haha had my fair share of stalking threads from the early 2000s when I was still in diapers... very crazy but the advice is still helpful. Thank you!
Go get them kid! Congrats!
bro PLEASE get laid
Wrote this post while watching a movie with my girlfriend :)
Inspiring, congrats man
Love to see this.
You're welcome. Congrats on the accomplishments, your future is bright!
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