Bond Believes in You
I pretended to know what consulting was up until the second semester of my freshman year. My good friend recommended I apply to BOND, and because she loved it, I thought I would challenge myself and see how far I could go. BOND’s process was unique because it wasn't intimidating or interrogative. There were many laughs and memorable conversations that made me feel comfortable even before the interviews. When I received my offer, numerous phone calls and text messages from different BOND members solidified that BOND was the right choice for me.
As the label of BOND began to weigh on me, so did my insecurities. Maybe it was the subtle, and not-so-subtle comments regarding how being black and a woman was a secure bid in any Michigan club. Or perhaps it was the internal isolation as a product of being in another zoom call where I was the only black face. So yes, the famous questioning of “Did I just get in because I am __?” chased my confidence in being an adequate "newbie" throughout the start of my project. However, the time with my project team taught me intimidation is often perceived about others and not the true intent of others.
Instead of questioning the validity of my statements, my fellow consultants brainstormed ways to make it happen. They welcomed me as any other member, which is the bare minimum, but has not been a common experience. Thanks to my team, I grew confident in my analytical skills, pushed to take charge of complex problems, and discovered that an intimidation factor is never a good reason to doubt your value in any situation. I remember distinctly when one of my team members said to me, “I want to teach you everything because the same was done for me.” That moment cleared all the preconceived notions about the people in this club and my place within it. I understood why BOND is genuinely the best: They believe in you enough to put in the time to teach you because they already know you are more than capable.
The squares on my zoom calls quickly turned into exciting friendships, amazing mentors, and a network of people. Yes, I mastered pivot tables, but most importantly, I learned to love ambiguous situations. BOND initiatives to integrate consultants of various backgrounds, majors, and interpretations to solve one problem results in spontaneous innovation and rewarding solutions constantly generated by this club. BOND not only redefined my newly founded professional trajectory but makes me feel secure to say I am definitely looking forward to my subsequent years of learning and growing in this club. After a successful semester with my team, I can confidently say I am a value add, and I advise everyone to take on the challenge of BOND.
