As I look back on everything that has happened to me during the past months, I can only remember what Jim Franklin, director of the MPA program, said at orientation: Even though “What starts here changes the world” might seem only a good marketing slogan, in this class there are 95 people who hopefully will have leading positions at important companies and this definitely can make a difference.”

Almost three months have gone by since I started this experience, and it all seems to have happened yesterday. I started my MPA during the second summer session, so I’ve been in Texas since the first days of July. My summer classes (Fraud Examination and Legal Environment of Business) went by as fast as lightning. It seems like it was yesterday when I was learning to use the UT shuttle and looking for my classrooms. During this time I believe I have checked my resume 15 times – seriously.

Today, I am planning my schedule for the next week and I am really nervous because I’ll have my first Intermediate exam and two interviews (my first ones here). I have been thinking about preparing for interviews since I got here, but even with that, it doesn’t seem real that in a couple of days I’ll be sitting right in front of an interviewer.

Last Friday, I went to a MPA International Connection (MIC) meeting, where we talked about interview tips, and at the beginning someone asked us how we were. A friend and I agreed that so much is happening and we feel that we can’t even “process” something when another thing comes up. Right now, I am starting to think that writing here will really help me reflect upon what I am doing.

To me, everything is happening so fast. The good thing is, I am enjoying every second of it. After all, what started here is really changing my world.