UC Bearcat - Weijie Li

Top ten most memorable things in my 1st year:

 

•    The way or perspective that people use to think about the question.

University education is not only a place to impart theoretical knowledge but also a place to cultivate students' diversified thinking and enhance their cognition of the world. Especially for students like me who are studying abroad, there are bound to be many challenges when we set foot on this road. It may be a surprise or a shock, but this is the meaning of life. Only experience can make a person grow up. We should be fully prepared to face uncertainty in the future rather than panic. Just like my study at the University of Cincinnati in the past semester, the process was arduous, but the result was surprising. I not only gained a lot of practical knowledge, but more importantly, I learned a kind of diversified thinking, and I looked at and solved all sorts of difficulties in life with a more inclusive attitude.

 

•    How to be an excellent professor and PACE leader

One of my mottos: If you want to live, you must learn to be a man. Therefore, learning to be a good person is better learning how to do the thing. Prof. Macarie used his unique and vivid teaching method and wonderful life experience to attract the students' attention and teach us. PACE Leader-Justin interprets an excellent PACE leader by leading by example. He is responsible and conscientious to help us. At the same time, he gives us useful guidance in both project and academic planning.

 

•    Friendship and brotherhood

I am really glad that there is a Learning Community for business students. It’s helpful for first-year students to make friends at the beginning, also is beneficial for business students to build business connection in advance. I believe that the days I have spent with my LC classmates will be an unforgettable time in my life.

 

•    Teamwork skills

The core of teamwork is cooperation. Teamwork is the essence of any team. It is selfless dedication based on mutual trust. Team members complement each other and help each other. For team members, they should have not only individual abilities but also have the ability to exert their abilities in different positions and coordinate and cooperate with other members.

 

•    Presentation skills

Public speaking is an essential skill for any business student. In my opinion, public speaking not only exercises one's expression ability but also exercises one's logical thinking ability and on-the-spot reaction ability. For me, every speech is an opportunity to improve my comprehensive ability continuously, and mastering this skill will surely make me more successful in my future career.

 

•    SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is the first time I heard about in the class, which is new to me. However, it can conduct comprehensive, systematic and accurate research on the situation of the research object, so as to formulate the corresponding development strategy, plan and countermeasures according to the research results. This analysis is widely used, not only in business to analyze projects or companies but also in people's daily life to make choices or decisions.

 

•    Basic Business theory Knowledge

As a business student, learning the basics of business is the first step into the world of business. The second is to determine the direction of their own learning and development. Therefore, learning the course of essential of business in last semester is helpful to understand the logic behind the operation of the business and the significance of its existence. Also, it is more likely for me to explore and determine the path of business that I am interested in or good at.

 

•    Visit BKD Accounting Company

It is a perfect experience to visit a company in downtown. That field trip gave me a more comprehensive understanding of an American company. One partner gave us a professional introduction to the company and showed us the working environment of the company. At the same time, I also interviewed a new intern in his working experience there. That experience deepened my understanding of American companies and made me look forward to entering into the workplace.

 

•    Break out Class on Friday

The time I have spent in the Break Out class is happy. I would like to say Section 23&17 is a special class because there are only boys in the class. We share the fun fact and make fun with each other without embarrassment. We discuss the project and solve the problem together. Also, we practice presentation in this class. This class gives us more time to get to know each other better.

 

•    The first Prof. Macarie’s class

I remember very well when Prof. Macarie asks students who are international students please to stand up during his first class. I was sitting in the first row, and I jumped up without thinking, because I was under the impression that many international students were studying business, so I thought there would be many international students in this class. However, the fact completely surprised me, Prof. Macarie said “Only you," and then I looked back and I stood up alone in a classroom that could hold more than a hundred people, causing a roar of laughter. Although this is a very embarrassing experience for me, I think it is a good thing to bring joy to others, and at the same time, it will bring closer the relationship between my classmates and me.

 

Part 2: The personal experience working part of my team:

As the part of Learning Community, I believe this experience brings to me is not only friendship, but also teamwork skills, and a lot of thought and understanding of unity that is beneficial for me to improve cooperation ability and communication skills. In my mind, there are two main parts of a team. They are excellent people with lofty character and competitive capabilities and excellent culture that is putting problems and disagreements on the table to the surface and solve them well, and people enjoy imagining and building the great thing that hasn’t been built before. In my team, everyone is a great person, and we do our best to get along with each other, work together and keep improving. I do remember that there are challenges when we were doing a SWOT analysis project. For example, in order to make us more efficient, I propose to outline the strength of the company first, such as the strength to the company's customers, the strength of the company's culture, and the core competitiveness of the company's products. But another teammate thought it would be more efficient to list all the advantages first and then categorize them. And so we have a disagreement. However, we didn't argue, and we immediately listed the advantages and disadvantages of each idea and compared them to see who was more feasible. Finally, when we put our own opinions on the table to analyze and solve, this process is also the process of our progress.  The meaningful relationships and meaningful works promote each other based on a truth and transparency environment. We should be realistic and open to teammates. At the same time, we expect our teammates are realistic and open to us as well, which is beneficial for us to put problems on the table, instead of hiding in the dark. When my teammates and I be able to openly discuss any important issue, learn from each other, and pursue excellence together, which means we establish a relationship that requires mutual accountability and intention. When I build this relationship with them, we can work together to get through this. At the same time, taking on the challenging work together brings the team closer together and strengthens our friendship. This self-reinforcing cycle drives the team to success and motivates you to aim higher.

 

Part 3: Conclusions – personal learning and memorable parts, including my academic improvement and feedback

By learning this subject, I have a deeper understanding and a more comprehensive understanding of business, which gives me a better understanding of my major direction, future career direction and goal. It also laid a solid foundation for my future business practice. Business studies cover a wide range of subjects, with in-depth theoretical knowledge and concepts. However, this course systematically sorts out many important business knowledge points and methodologies. It is beneficial for us to have a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the logic behind the business, as well as the value and significance of its existence. More importantly, when we learn theory knowledge, this course also offers us the opportunity to practice, from the last semester of a SWOT analysis to this semester's start-up company project, which makes us more effective to apply theory to practice, from practice reflects the results. My biggest feeling about practice from the course is I am able to understand and fully absorb the theoretical knowledge deeply. Finally in the commercial practice reflects the high efficiency, high success probability. Last but not least, any success I gained from this course also relates to Prof. Macarie. Tedious and complicated theoretical knowledge adds difficulty and boredom to this course. However, I feel fortunate that Prof. Macarie can teach us. I was deeply attracted by this course with the active and exciting teaching atmosphere, efficient teaching method and the humorous and amiable personality of Marica.

On the other hand, I believe that the days of studying and getting along with my LC classmates will be the most unforgettable memory of my overseas study. During this period, I not only gained knowledge but more importantly, I established a deep friendship with friends of the same age and with the same direction in the business school, which laid the foundation for future business connection in advance. What still remains fresh in my mind is the moment when I was in the first LC class, I was a little out of place due to the strange environment and now we just called bro to each other, we did the project together and hung out together. At the same time, in the process of getting along with each other, it is also a process of learning from each other. From each of them, I can see that they have a positive attitude towards study and life, as well as positive energy, which affects me a lot. Therefore, I also take this opportunity to convey my sincere gratitude to every LC brother who helped me.