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“You got to risk it to get the biscuit”-Unknown

C. Describe a time when you took a great risk. What was the outcome?

“If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary”

- Jim Rohn

“There can be no great accomplishment without risk!”

- Neil Armstrong

“Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go”

- T.S Eliot

“To know what life is worth, you have to risk it once in a while!”

- Jean-Paul Sartre

“It is a Risk to love, What if it does not work? AH, but what if it does?!!”

- Peter McWilliams

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”- Wayne Gretzky

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life”

- Muhammad Ali

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Agenda

Overview3• Decision Process

4• Risks

5• Benefits

6Decision 7• The Journey - Academic

8• The Journey - Social

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Outcome10• Career benefits

11• Social benefits

12• Next Risk

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• I was 18 years old, high school graduate and I had received multiple undergraduate acceptance.

• Major conflict: decide whether to pursue my bachelor’s degree at:

• Option 1: Local university or

• Option 2: Overseas university

• I graduated with an excellent local standing: thus, to get accepted and succeed in local Programs was more of a certain thing.

• However, the program offered at Concordia university (overseas university) was challenging and most appealing option.

However, it came with risks and wasn’t as sweet as it sounded

Overview

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Identify Risk

Analyse

Plan

ActionTake the Leap

• Identify the risks taken • Analyse the benefits of each option • Plan to minimize the risks

“You can if you want”

Work on my Language skills Plan my course load ahead Save money to support my expenses

• Consult my parents and ask for their support.

• Action Taken.

Decision Process

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• If selected, the only risk I had was the loss of an opportunity to get a better education abroad.

• Risk my GPA• Language • Financial risk – cost of program and personal expenses with minimum income

• Leaving my comfort zone• Time to finish program.

Approximate tuition per year: 30,000 USD

Command of English Language: Poor

High School GPA : 92% out of 100

Credits require: 123 Hrs. = 41 courses

Studying at a local university Vs. Studying at Concordia university

Risks

GPALanguage

Financial Risk

Comfort Zone

fTime

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• No language barrier

• High chances of obtaining my degree with good standing

• Surrounded with family and friends

• Cost of program was low

• Challenging choice

• Attractive strong program offered

• New environment to explore

• Personal development: Language, maturity and dependence, etc..

• competitive graduate candidate

Studying at a local university Vs. Studying at Concordia university

Benefits

bene

fits

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“ Challenged accepted, Montreal! Here I come!!”

Scared as I was, I Jumped on a plane and 18 hours later I was in Montreal, Canada

Decision

! Canada holds the record for the most gold medals ever won at the Winter Olympics

! Montreal is home to many beautiful churches and is often called The City of Saints or City of a hundred bell towers

! Canada is also home to the longest street in the world. Yonge Street – 2000 KM

! In Montreal, On average there are 12 days per year with a wind-chill below -30 C and one day per year with a wind-chill below -40 C

! Canada has over 30000 lakes, 10 provinces and 3 territories,2 main languages spoken which are English and French and it is the second largest country in the world by total area

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Academic - The first year didn’t proceed as planned, the difficulty of the

course with my language restriction was challenging more than I

anticipated.

- Worked with major companies on projects such as:

- Starbucks

- Wal-Mart

- Created strong long lasting relationship with my mentors-

professors.

- A challenging, victorious and memorable semester I had was

when I registered for full course load with the toughest courses

picked, a challenge I had with my advisor.

The Journey - Academic

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The cold weather created a major shock for me, however; I did

witness my first snow fall that year.

Go HABS GO! i got the chance to watch Hockey games in the city

of The Champions.

Poutine! Doesn’t look as good as it tastes but it should be the

first thing you try when visiting Canada

Developed my passion for literature, art and music (Jazz) since

Montreal is known for hosting massive yearly events.

The Journey- Social

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Outcome

• Graduated in 2011

• 5 job offers received

• Hired by the a well-known multinational

company – Nestle waters

• Explored a new culture

• Strong social relationship

• Memorable life experience

• Excellent command of the English

language

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- Returning in September 2011, I realize how fortunate I was to have taken the risk. Not only did I obtain my degree but also the following:

• Career Benefits: 5 Job offers and I was able to land a job in the career path and pay I desired. Today I hold the position of Distribution deputy manager and will be promoted to Senior Demand &

Supply Manager. My critical thinking skills, decision making process and working under pressure has come in hand

throughout my career. I continue to impress my superiors and show signs of continuous development. Being exposed to other cultures than mine gave me the understanding to be able to work with more

than 14 different nationalities today.

Outcome – Career Benefits

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Social Benefits

Met various people from around the world.

Exposed and adapted new cultures, principles and values.

Social connections gained through my studies has come in

use in multiple occasion in my personal and career life.

My second language skills has developed to the extent I use

it more than my native one.

My self discipline and dependency has evolved dramatically

after living abroad.

Outcome – Social & Personal Benefits

Today, I roll the dice again! A new similar risk awaits !

I.E

“Don't just Count your years, Make your years Count”

- George Meredith

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