The main motivation for writing this article is to demonstrate that when your goals are big and you have the support of your family, there should not be any obstacle that you cannot overcome if you have their support, that of your friends and you have the full conviction that it is worth fighting for these goals.
I am Carlos Euceda from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, married with a 6 year old son named Sebastian. Both are my main motivation to be here 700 kilometers away from them for 15 months of the program.
Before coming to Costa Rica, to take my MBA from INCAE, many of my friends and family would ask me, " And does your family travel with you?", honestly it was difficult to answer no, however, when you have a dream and it has become a personal goal that you think will help you to be a better person for your family, I personally think, "there should be no distance that prevents you to accomplish your goals if you do it thinking about the people that support you and inspire you!"
At first everything seemed crazy, especially when the dates of the trip were getting closer, it was when I accepted that it seemed crazy and it was when I was closer to giving up my dream. But I took some personal time and evaluated the whole picture, I remember thinking if a master's degree was really worth the sacrifice.
All the things I knew about INCAE motivated me enough to say yes, stories of success and improvement, one of the best business schools in the region and what it means to overcome the challenge INCAE. But many family aspects such as, being away from my son for so long and missing so much of his development, the support I can give them if needed, the distance involved, the risk of weakening relationships and more things like leaving my parents made me think. Especially because I remember the day I talked to my father for two hours because he told me it was a whim.
Whenever there is a difficulty to undertake the path towards your goals, you look for excuses: "What if economic problems?", "What if I miss my family?", "What if I fail?", but this is the moment where you should take the step and think ahead and ask yourself, "What would happen if I don't try now?" That is exactly what I did and I remember being full of frustration, asking myself, "Why didn't I try?", "Was it worth staying?"
Almost five months later, I find myself here facing the challenge that INCAE represents, meeting people that day by day become your friends and a possible work or business connection in the near future. It has been difficult I can't deny it, especially when I miss my family and wish for a hug or a simple moment of family togetherness, but again I try to build a future in my mind where I see myself with them on graduation day where my goal, which started as a simple dream, will be realized.
Therefore, for all those people who think it is difficult to come here and make complicated decisions, evaluate your future and take the step out of the comfort zone that will bring you to meet this challenge, that step that will put you one step higher and closer to your dreams. Family should not become an anchor; on the contrary, it can become the catapult that launches you to a privileged place where you can become a new support for them.
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THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN INCATRAZ MAGAZINE AND WAS WRITTEN BY CARLOS EUCEDA, MBA LATIN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP II STUDENT.
