A Student's Life (reader's issue)

by Kilian Meier, student of International Management

 

This presentation was held on the 27th of June 2000 in Olten / Switzerland.

 

First of all I would like to thank you for your interest in my speech about "A student's life". My name is Kilian Meier and I'm studying International Management at this school.

 

I'd like to give you a short overview of today's topic by formulating two questions:

Could studying affect your personal environment, too? And if so, are there only financial aspects?

 

Firstly, I'd like to draw your attention to your own personal environment.

What is the situation you're in? Do you keep a house? What's your own financial situation? What kind of commitments do you have? What are your spare time preferences? How much time do you spend with friends?

Once you decided to start studying, you have to be aware of several restrictions you might meet during your studies.

It could be, for example, that you have to cut down your spare time, just because of increasing your studying time. And that of course will affect a relationship as to a friend of yours or your spouse or whoever. Maybe you will do your homework instead of cleaning the house, you cancel the cinema or you deny a friend's invitation for dinner. I can tell you, it is not always that easy, even to say impossible, to take care of all the commitments you once had, before studying.

At the beginning I thought that there is enough time to keep up all my hobbies. But after the first month I realized that the studying time will use more time than I expected. In addition, I tried to do the homework at the weekend, but this variant failed. You have to do it continuously throughout the week. But that's then all about time management.

Just imagine, currently it takes me up to 4 hours of learning per subject per week, that is an average learning time of about 20 - 25 hours per week. So, on my opinion, you definitely have to cut your spare time activities. Keeping an appointment book is a must. Therefore it's an advantage if you already bring some organizational skills with you.

 

And now I would like to talk about costs. When you enroll for this school you have to show at least 1 years of practical business experience. Despite the fact that you certainly earned some money by working (or even in the lottery), some students just do not have sufficient funds to finance their studies.

This particular "Betriebsoekonom"-study costs you about sFr. 30'000 over 3 years. Did you know that? But don't worry, I'm sure, somebody will pay it! If it's not you, someone else is definitely pleased to help you in this matter.

 

That brings me to scholarship. There are several institutions, private and governmental, which could assist you to manage a financial "lack". But inform yourself as soon as possible before starting a study and see them right after starting the course. Address to the school, government or even the Internet for the required information.

Nevertheless, some institutions won't pay you money for the first year. Of course it also depends on your personal savings. But some questions seem to be most important for both private and governmental institutions. Questions which could influence their decision is i.e. "do you still live at your parents home?", "what are your earnings?", "your age?" or the "time of practical business experience in which you should have earned enough money to set up earnings?"

I can tell you, sometimes I was really tired of running from Point A to Point Z and from Point Z to Point A back. But if you ask for this particular assistance, you'd better include this time consuming subject in your schedule, too.

The range of scholarships is extremely broad. As it depends on the state you're living in, you might expect between sFr. 1'000.00 / 2'000.00 up to 12'000.00. If nothing will be given to you, you have to find other ways of financing yourself. There are banks, families of even a spouse or friend - and that could bring us back to "how studying might affect a relationship".

 

But let's leave that there and go on to the nicer side of a student's life. Actually I don't know where to start...

 

Is it the discount I get at the zoo or museum? Or is it a 5-month vacation? Is it the opportunity to go abroad for a student exchange? Is it a student's party or a cool drink in a pub after school? Or is it simply to acquire new and more knowledge.....and apply it in a business function in the future?

It's obvious to me that the latter one is the most important argument. You might say it's typically an economist's approach. But that's today's life, and that counts! The other arguments are of course a part of all the pleasant side effects. But if you start this kind of study, you should know that, after three years, there are much more possibilities out in economy than you had before.

 

Your knowledge will guide you throughout your life. Knowledge is a basic driver in economy - without it, economy couldn't exist. We will be paid for applying our knowledge in the everyday business activities. But we have to improve our knowledge continuously, because we are living in world of changes. And so we have to change, too.

And what is the definition of changing? I just like to quote from George Mankiew, a confirmed American economist, who once said: "You have to give up something to obtain something new"

So, to sum up what I said, is: no matter what you study, you're on the right track.

Let's pick up the question again - is it worth studying?..... On my opinion: yes it is. If you know your personal goals, and you would like to reach them, you will plunge into this great field of adventure. And you might adopt to all it's restrictions. Because, if you're able to analyze them, to react and get them under your control,

studying is definitely fun!

Oral Communication International Management, class 1.3 Kilian Meier

June 27th presentation