From College Dropout, to Top MM IB Internship Offer

I honestly debated whether or not I would even write one of these success stories, especially considering that if they’re written the wrong way they can come across as simply stroking one’s own ego; however I decided that if I put this out there and some kid who was fighting the odds, down on his/her luck, or staying strong in the face of rejection found it and gained some strength from it, it would be worth it. So here goes nothing…

I dropped out of college in 2012. I had just lost a significant family member during my first semester freshman year and I decided to cope with it in the wrong ways. Going out too much, not going to class enough, basically the opposite of what a productive college kid does. Managed to not get put on academic probation or anything severe like that – but my parents urged me to reconsider spending ~$25k/yr of my college savings to party and chase women. I ended up listening, and I’m glad I did.

I came home feeling pretty dejected, and eventually was highly encouraged (read: forced) to get a job instead of playing the latest version of ‘Chel in the basement and hanging out with my miscreant friends all day. A prominent fast-casual restaurant was opening a new location in my hometown, and my buddy who opted out of post-secondary education applied and encouraged me to do the same. Fuck it, why not – after all being broke sucked.

Fast forward to about 2 months into this job: I’m still kind of a jackass but have been identified as a potential candidate for the management track. Great. Well, except for the fact that my boss isn’t someone who is easy to get along with. Couple that with the fact that I’m a snot-nosed 19 year old who has a problem with authority and one day she decides to can me after some backtalk. The only reason I didn’t actually get fired was because at the team-get-together we had before opening the location, I had a great conversation with HER boss; I called him in the car after I was fired, and asked if I could transfer locations. Thankfully he said yes.

I go to the new location and decide an attitude adjustment is in order. Regardless of where I’m at in life I decide I’m going to be the best at whatever I’m focused on at the time, especially if I ever hope to progress in life. It works… to cut an already long story short I bust my ass, change my attitude, and start to genuinely buy into the success of the people around me. I become the general manager of the new location within 18 months of transferring.

I decided to start taking classes at the local CC while I’m running my restaurant, say about 12 credits at a time with the goal of going to finish my undergraduate degree. Manage to pull that off and transfer into what I (with bias of course) believe to be the best undergrad business program in my state.

To draw this long ass anecdote to a close, yesterday I got the offer call to SA at the firm I’ve been targeting since I decided on IB. I cried like a little bitch – and I’m damn proud of it too. The culmination of 7 years of effort will do that to a person.

The takeaway I want for the kid who is out there hustling and grinding right now is this: don’t you ever fucking give up, maximize/squeeze every ounce of growth out of every opportunity that comes your way, and whatever you define as success will materialize… the hardest journey’s produce the sweetest feelings on the other side.

Cheers.