By: Chineme Obiefune (Cohort 25)

I’m proud to call the QUEST program home. I personally don’t think there’s another program that mixes the professional and social aspects of business so perfectly, in a way that creates actual value for the participants. Time and time again, I’m reminded that the people I sit next to in 390H and see in the QUEST lab are some of the smartest students at Maryland. I’ve learned a lot from the professors, but even more from the actual students in the program. Through simple conversations, I’ve learned more about myself and received help and support from the most unlikely sources.

My experience in QUEST has been unlike any other program at Maryland. What has surprised me the most is the emphasis placed on the application of topics that we learn in the class. The three projects I completed in 190H were definitely time consuming, but none of that time was ever wasted. There was never a moment where I felt as if my time could be better spent elsewhere. Those projects showed me skills I didn’t even know I had and gave me the chance to learn even more. 390H has been even more of a roller coaster. The course has been amazing and I can honestly say that there hasn’t been a group project that I’ve been more proud of than the one I did for 390H. That class allowed me to explore my passions and combine them with the consulting skills I gained in 190H to create an incredible piece of work.

Outside of the required QUEST coursework, I feel it’s only right to talk about the sense of community within the QUEST program. Through participating in QUESTPress and constantly being in the QUEST lab, I’ve come in contact with a lot of really cool people. It wasn’t until this semester that I really started to connect with more people in my cohort, and I’m thankful that I made the effort to do so because it’s been an incredible semester. The sense of community makes everything seem more fun. I actually look forward to going to class and to all of the extra events that the QUEST community puts on. The people really make the program what it is.

Next year, I’m going to be a mentor for Cohort 28 and it’s crazy seeing how things come full circle. When I first came into QUEST, my mentor Sarah Scott (Q23) definitely made the experience a lot more interactive and enjoyable. Knowing that I have the influence to potentially elevate the QUEST experience for the new students is exhilarating. I can’t wait to share my knowledge and help them grow both inside of the classroom and outside as well. At the end of the day, even in a mentor position, I’m still learning. There are still two years before I graduate and I still have 490H ahead. But with only one year of QUEST under my belt, I feel prepared to take on any challenge. It’s easy to face the world when you have the best team in your corner.