#SAMily

From getting lost in a sketchy airport parking garage to being harassed about my goats to winning first place in a case competition, last week was definitely eventful. What started as a chaotic trip in Detroit turned into one of the most unforgettable experiences in Rhode Island. Along the way, I learned so much not just about business, but about the value of teamwork and stepping outside my comfort zone.

Last Friday started early with packing before my 8 a.m. class. After class, my group met at the Dicke building and headed to the Detroit airport. The drive was smooth until parking. After circling for what felt like forever, we finally found a spot and made it inside. Our flight, originally scheduled for 1:35 p.m., was delayed multiple times until 4:55 p.m. Thankfully, we didn’t have anything planned that night, so arriving at the hotel around 8 p.m. wasn’t an issue. We grabbed dinner and went straight to bed.

Thursday was packed with conference events at the New England Institute of Technology. We attended workshops, listened to speakers, participated in events and completed the case draw. That night, instead of nonstop practicing, my team spent time bonding. While we were all a little anxious, getting to know each other better made us feel more confident and supported. (Also, shoutout to my sleep-talking roommate who randomly asked me about my goats.)

Friday morning, it was time to lock in. I woke up early to review my slides and mentally prepare. After arriving at the competition, we waited for our 9:40 a.m. presentation time. When it was finally our turn, we presented to three Senesco Marine judges. It was definitely intimidating at first, but once we got started, everything flowed. We answered their questions confidently and left feeling proud of our performance, even though we didn’t expect to place very high.

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to tour Senesco Marine’s facility. It was such a cool experience to see everything we had studied come to life. Later that night, we attended the 81st annual SAM awards dinner. After sitting through the anticipation of not hearing our name, Ohio Northern University was finally called for first place in the undergraduate case competition. It was a moment I will never forget.

After celebrating, we headed home on Sunday. The flight went smoothly this time, although we almost left our first-place plaque on the plane. The drive back to Ada was intense, as we drove through a heavy thunderstorm, but we made it back safely.

This trip will always be something I will remember. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me grow and brought me closer to an amazing team. If you are ever unsure about trying something new, just go for it; you never know what might happen. #SAMily