Lindsay Phend

Professionals - Evening
Current Industry/Job: Project Administrator & Production Scheduler
From: "Oil Brat"

Favorite quote and why:

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness." -Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

The reason I love this quote is because it serves as a constant reminder for me when things are hard. Life is not always easy or kind, but that does not mean you should let the world change you into someone who no longer sees it as beautiful. 

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor and why?

Daniel Quinn, author of Ismael and The Story of B.

I was first introduced to Daniel Quinn my freshman year of undergrad. Though the message that Quinn writes about is written simply in his books, I know that he and I view life and the roles of people and society in the same way. I believe that Quinn would always be able to give me the perspective I need in difficult situations, while allowing me to stay true to my beliefs and values.

Best memory from your first year in the MBA program:

Immersion.

I'm sure a lot of people would like to forget about immersion and how demanding the first week was. For me though, I loved sharing such a strenuous experience not only with my team, but my classmates. We were all going through something together, and we all had one another to carry us through to the end. Immersion allowed us to get to know each other in a deeper and more meaningful way than I had expected.

What story does your family always tell about you?

My parents love telling people how fussy of a baby I was and the awful tantrums I would throw in the most inappropriate places. There are two they recall as the worst: in a very old and silent cathedral and at the White House. My tantrum was so bad at the White House that guards came out from inside to make sure everything was okay. My poor parents!

What advice would you like to provide incoming students?

Breathe. There will be moments when you feel overwhelmed by your new life as a Professional MBA student, but remember that everything is going to be fine, and you're doing great! When you find yourself getting overwhelmed take the time to walk away and just breathe.

Any additional unique facts you would like to share:

For the animal lovers-I know the squirrels are friendly, but don't feed them too much! We want our furry friends to be healthy!

Also, make a point to visit the Turrell Sky Space one evening, its a very calming and beautiful experience.