Lesson 11: Learning

“And the winner is… Team Purple!” This team of middle school students stood up to accept their award from the judges. They won the Investment Thesis Competition after proposing their strategy to buy certain stocks in the technology industry. They smiled as their parents took their photo to capture this moment that (hopefully) marks the beginning of their journey as investors.

In Lesson 4: Consistency, I wrote about how I was teaching middle school scholars about the stock market. Last night, these scholars showcased their new knowledge to their parents and teachers. I felt proud of all the work they put into their learning. They acquired useful skills for their future.

This summer, I plan to develop new skills during my internship with T. Rowe Price. As an equity research intern, I will select one stock to study and make a recommendation on whether to buy or sell it. Although I spent the last few months teaching about investing, it is my turn to learn about it because learning never stops. 

After the internship ends, I will start business school at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Over the next two years, I will be immersed in a learning environment which will help prepare me to pursue my dream of leading a trade school. Learning requires asking a lot of questions. Sometimes I hesitate to ask a question because I do not want to seem unintelligent, but it is unwise to keep quiet. The scholars I taught this Spring learned immensely because they asked plenty of good questions. It was a great reminder for me as I start school in the Fall.

My values are to act with love, humility, and wisdom. When I graduate from business school, I want to be a leader who has the wisdom to keep learning. It does not serve anyone if my growth stops once I walk across that stage. It is incumbent upon me to find new resources to continue learning for the decades to come.

Learning is Lesson 11. Next week, I will share Lesson 12: Honesty.