Fresh Ideas and New Connections: My First Month at SOM
Henry Lam ’25, a student in the GBS program, started his SOM journey with team-building activities, invigorating class discussions, and a new role in student government.
It was captivating to arrive on Yale’s campus and immerse myself in the school’s people-oriented environment. As a person traveling to the U.S. for the first time, I felt excited and a little bit nervous about the academic journey ahead. But from the first day of Orientation, I started making life-long connections. During one team-building exercise, we had to work in groups to bring a ball through an obstacle course, demonstrating how effective groups can be when we collaborate. I also enjoyed a presentation workshop that laid a great foundation for communicating effectively, even within a few minutes of discussion. Through these activities, I met several good friends with whom I now enjoy studying, working on projects, and—of course—traveling.
My classes themselves have turned out to be fun, rather than intimidating. I’ve been impressed by the lively in-class discussions among the intelligent peers in my cohort. This environment is very different from the learning style I was accustomed to in my home country of Hong Kong, where the focus is generally on studying for exams. At SOM, there are plenty of opportunities for students to express their views and share ideas with classmates. I especially love the core class Managing Groups and Teams, in which we simulate working in environments in companies with different structures and hierarchies. The feedback I receive from classmates after this kind of group activity is always meaningful and thought-provoking.
Outside class, I was recently elected to represent my GBS cohort in the Graduate and Professional Student Senate. This representative body, which includes students from all Yale graduate schools, aims to foster community not just within SOM, but across the university. It’s been a pleasure to meet with students from other schools and discuss important proposals that affect our academic experiences, such as increasing opportunities to take classes in other graduate schools. I’ve also had opportunities to join committees within the senate that work on topics like diversity and inclusion.
In my first few weeks at SOM, I’ve seen that the school is genuinely committed to creating an inclusive and supportive community. I’m eager to keep participating in class discussions that will help me discover new angles on business issues, and to continue advocating for accessibility and diversity through my student government together. I know that the year ahead will be an exciting journey.
