AAA – The Ellipse

by Brian Pak, edited by Patrick S Lee

On the night of March 3rd 2010, students in Dwinelle convened to learn not about languages or classics, but how to tie that annoying full Windsor knot, apply to graduate school, and even sip tea in England. The Development Committee’s (Devo) Business Professional Development Workshop taught students the skills they will need for graduate school and the workplace after graduation.  Each of the four workshops provided information on different aspects of professional life.

Kaplan representative Murl Smith described the various graduate school entrance exams and dispensed advice on the application process.  Whether preparing for the cold logic of the LSAT essays or the simple multiple choice of the GRE, the key is to enjoy what you study and pick a career that you can be excited about.

The numerous AAA alumni took it upon themselves to help the next generation along by providing a resume workshop as well as interview tips.  Mixing tough questions with helpful critique brought some back to their own first interviews, some as far back as the infamous “stepping out of your comfort zone” portion of the AAA committee interview.

Devo also taught workshops on how to dress and how to eat in different countries.  After demonstrating the differences between business formal and business casual, AAA members tested their skills at tying a full Windsor knot.  Confusion and hilarity often ensued, but eventually most managed to look sharp without resorting to a clip on tie.  (T-shirts, hoodies and ties, I sense a new fashion trend.) But getting dressed is only half the battle; the other half was the food.  Proper chopstick etiquette, slurping, refusing food, and tea time were addressed as we ate our way from Japan to China to England to America.

So while we might not have picked up any extra units towards that elusive degree, the skills and information gleaned from Devo’s business professional development workshop were every bit as useful and fulfilling.