Why owning your story is the only MBA metric that matters

Abhilasha Dhital, MBA ’27

First year MBA students all arrive at the program with a lifetime of different values, perspectives, and ambitions. For me, I arrived after leaving 25 years of my world behind, stepping straight onto what felt like a high-speed roller coaster.

Just before my first semester in the Michigan State Broad Full-Time MBA program, I visited the Cedar Point amusement park. I didn’t know it then, but those loops and drops were symbolic. When you’re on a ride like this, you have two choices: you can white-knuckle the handrails in fear, or you can put your hands up and enjoy the wind. I chose to put my hands up. I decided early on that I wouldn’t just “get through” this program; I would be a sponge. I am here to soak up every drop of diversity and global exposure available. But here is the secret to soaking things up without drowning: you must stay grounded in what matters. For me, that is my family and my friends. To keep them at the center, I had to learn the art of the intentional trade-off.

The Power of the “Cost”

In our classrooms, we talk endlessly about trade-offs. In my life, it comes down to one question: “What is the cost of prioritizing this today?” I’ve realized that I don’t have to do everything at the same time, and my path doesn’t have to sync with anyone else’s plan. I stopped beating myself up for scores on a scorecard that wasn’t mine to begin with. Instead, I compare myself to my own goals, challenging myself to never stay complacent while refusing to be a side character in someone else’s story.

A Tale of Two Semesters

My journey hasn’t been a flat line; it’s been a deliberate evolution.

• The First Act was about the foundation. I focused on the basics: settling in, securing my GA position, and building a lifestyle of discipline and relationships.
• The Second Act is the surge. Right now, my days are a beautiful, high-energy blur. I am traveling to different states, attending many events a week, and diving deep into the world of networking and recruiting.

Because I took that step back to plan in the beginning, I can now look back without a single “could have been” or “would have been.”

The Fulfilling, Busy Day

What does a balanced day in this life look like? It’s a spectrum. It’s dancing and jumping around in the morning, engaging in sharp professional networking by midday, and sharing a deep, therapeutic conversation with my supervisor in the afternoon. It’s hitting the gym/dancing as the sun sets, cooking a meal, connecting with my loved ones back home, and stating gratitude statements and breathing before a peaceful sleep.

To some, that might sound like a lot, to some nothing. To me, it sounds like an extremely fulfilling life.

Write It Down, Live It Out

My room is my command center; filled with my to-do boards, pictures of the future I’m building, and a calendar that reflects my soul, not just my tasks. Whether I’m creating content, applying for internships, or connecting spiritually, I remain open to every door that knocks.

If you want to truly own your story, get a little uncomfortable with reflections. Talk to your friends, ask for the feedback that makes you pause, and lean into the human connections that add real value to this experience.

We all start this journey with different perspectives, but it’s how we soak up the experience that defines us. Live, laugh, love, and most importantly: keep your hands up. The ride is beautiful.