Mastering Supply Chains Episode 3: 10 Lessons My Bachelor’s Taught Me
Hello everyone and welcome back to CappuccinoCalling and to Episode three of my series: Mastering Supply Chains.
In this episode, I’ll share the top 10 lessons I learned during my Bachelor’s degree that I want to implement in my Master’s — to get better results and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle.
Certain type of stress are actually good.
This one goes out to my Type B people — those of us who are usually chill (sometimes too chill). A bit of stress before exams or presentations helps your body realize something important is coming. For me, this always kicked in about a week before exams, and it pushed me to keep going even when I was tired or things got tough.
Study smarter, not harder.
Believe me when I tell you it is not always the person who studies the longest who gets the best grade. What matters is understanding the type of exam and the style of the professor. Do they want word-for-word definitions? Or do they prefer applying knowledge in cases? Once you figure that out, you save yourself hours of wasted effort.
Stop doing other things instead of the thing you actually need to do.
Yes, making a pretty summary or smashing mock exams feels productive — but if you don’t understand that one concept, you’re only procrastinating. Tackle the hard parts first, then move on.
Surround yourself with like-minded people.
If you want uni to be chill — surround yourself with chill people. If you want to grind 24/7, find others with the same mindset. And if you want a balance, find friends who get that too. Your social circle will shape your study habits more than you realize. (That said, don’t overdo it - you can have your party friends and your study friends too 😉).
Every beginning is hard.
No one really knows what they’re doing, even if they look like it. I saw so-called “high performers” in my very first lecture… and three years later, some were still there with me. At the end of the day it is your degree and and your own path.
Time off from uni can look totally different — and that’s okay.
One summer I was constantly traveling — festivals, surf camp in Portugal with my best friend, Italy twice, France with family… truly a “summer of a lifetime.” Two years later, I spent my summer working internships full-time. Both were valuable and helped me grow in different ways. Don’t overthink what you should be doing — go with the flow.
Some friendships won’t last forever — and that’s okay too.
I went through a major friendship breakup in my second year. At the time, it hurt a lot. But through that, I met so many other amazing people that I wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise. For my Master’s, I know I’ll focus on building a solid social circle, while also accepting that not every friendship is meant to last forever.
On the flip side, I also want to highlight that I met my best friend on the first day of uni — and we had the best time together throughout our Bachelor’s. I can’t wait to keep making memories with her!
Network like crazy.
Your network doesn’t have to be made up of close friends. Just knowing people you can say hi to, ask for advice, or collaborate with is so helpful. It makes campus life a lot easier and friendlier.
Learn to love yourself and enjoy your own company.
Moving to Vienna for my Bachelor’s meant starting fresh — new city, no friends, family far away. It forced me to become comfortable with myself. Honestly, it was one of my biggest growth experiences because it taught me to trust myself and to know that I would always have me. When you feel good in your own skin, people naturally gravitate toward you.
Don’t over-plan your future.
The visions I had (and still have) for my future… woooow. BUT your dreams will change — and that’s okay. Just because you enjoyed finance in your first semester doesn’t mean you must become an investment banker. Goals are important, but flexibility is too. Life can flip in 24 hours — sometimes in amazing ways. Trust that it’ll work out and that everything will be okay.
That’s it for today’s episode of Mastering Supply Chains! These lessons shaped me during my Bachelor’s, and I’m excited to carry them with me into my Master’s journey. I hope you can take something valuable from this too.
See you next time <3<3
Byeeee