Why did you take an MBA? — and Why ITB?
By: Bp Noeringtyas
Tags: Masters Degree, Critical Thinking, Why, Institutteknologibandung, Mba

Why did you take an MBA? — and Why ITB?

Captured situation during Marketing Class at MBA ITB Bandung. On picture, from left: Ilham, Teguh, Jovan, Alan, Wildan. (The graphic embedded with alt text for persons with visually impaired and Blind persons)

My marketing lecturer, Mrs. Nila A. Windasari, opened our first marketing class, where she taught about perceived value on that day, with an evocative question: “Why did you choose an MBA? and Why ITB?” — a question that has been embedded in my mind since three years ago. After some “scholarship voyaging”, I ended up at SBM ITB, taking an MBA. Frankly, it has been my dream since undergrad. Learning business acumen from the top tier business school across the nation. Yet, today I am hesitant to step ahead without any reasons. Thus, I made a decision to dig deeper into my courage and to find why I choose this degree from hundreds of degrees offered in the world.

Some of my friends proudly shouted: “Because it is ITB ma’am, and we know it is great to be here. Least, it will be granted an international accreditation this year”. Others said: “I want to upgrade my opportunity in seeking prestigious jobs”. The last replied: “I looked at its curriculum that is fit for me”. While others answered consecutively, I was on deep thinking and “slapped” my face to know the answer about it. And I raised my hand:

“Actually, I am still wondering why I am here. I do not want to step onto biased thoughts. Some people said that SBM ITB is great, while others said so-so. I need to prove by myself why I am here (and also why I deserved to go here with such prestigious scholarship)”

Several days ago, I talked with my friends while physically distancing myself from the COVID-19 pandemic. We were discussing everything, including the aforementioned. She asked me, “Why did you think about that?”. I replied:

“I really do not know why I am here and took an MBA at ITB. I am planning to think about it. I believe that it will keep my critical thinking still in live mode. I dislike a status-quo, and always question everything to get the core of it. And with that core I can easily learn everything with all of my mind and intentions.”

Does it mean that you are lying at this time?. A big no. All of my statements, not only in the past, but also in the future, are still on hypothetical forms. It cannot be proven by anyone or someone until they are reaching “AHA” moments. Four days ago too, I wrote on my twitter about my feelings and gratitude I took an Islamic Economics degree for my undergrad background before coming to this stage. I found my AHA moments after took the course. I am really getting the advantages of learning about it.

My tweet about my gratitude I granted for taking an Islamic Economics degree as my Undergraduate study (the graphic embedded with alt text for persons with visual impairment or Blind persons)

Throwback, I always saw unbelievable economy phenomenons during classes Theory of Islamic Finance, Islamic Insurance, for instance. It crashed with our economy that we are in. Yet, this study always offered us a newness mindset. We were encouraged to think very out loud, how to embrace situational trade-offs in our daily lives. Those innovations and critical thinking, just felt in recent days. Written on that graph, I am not only talking about Zakat or Sadaqah in Islamic Philanthropy, yet It gave me a different confidence level to receive all related-advice, ideas for coping current challenges, and not being a surrender to prosecute problems. I consider myself as an open-minded person and always, automatically, eager to seek other ways of thinking.

My MBA’s journey is still ongoing and I really do not know, clueless, where I am heading off after the journey. Is it a big advantage or adversely for me and society?. I am really conscious about what I am taking and what I am doing with all privilege I got — an MBA at top university in Indonesia even Asia, best business school in In Indonesia, and granted with generous scholarship. So, not living in bias should be part of my routine and part of my culture.

Dear Future of me, listen, bear this on your mind. Do not believe all things now and then, except your belief. Questioning, Wondering, and Asking to yourself, what are you doing and why do you here. It will strengthen you, always.

BPN, 2020 — in physical distancing mode during COVID-19.