As another generation of business school students conclude their studies we ask them to reflect on Graduation Day and the lifelong impact of their studies…
- Name: João Gomes
- Institution: Porto Business School (PBS)
- Degree: Global Online MBA
How does participating in a graduation ceremony help you emotionally mark the end of your student journey and prepare for what’s next?
For me, the graduation ceremony isn’t just about walking across a stage. It’s a moment where we all get to pause, take a breath, and look each other in the eye with that unspoken “we did it” feeling.
It marks the end of something intense, yes. But more than that, it’s a shared celebration of growth, resilience, and camaraderie. We’re not just clapping for our own diploma. We’re genuinely proud of what everyone has become. That emotional closure, collective and joyful, is what makes it real. And it gives us the fuel to move forward into what’s next, together or apart.
What does it mean to you to be recognized publicly for your learning and accomplishment – and who do you feel you’re representing as you cross the stage?
Crossing the stage isn’t really about me. It’s about everyone who made this journey possible. My family for their unwavering support, the team I lead at work who kept things running and thriving even when I couldn’t be fully present, the friends who had my back, and the classmates who showed up on the other side of the screen, week after week. They were all part of this.
“It’s a celebration of what we managed to do together, not just what I’ve achieved on my own.”
– João Gomes
Being recognized publicly feels less like a personal trophy and more like a way to say “thank you” to all those people. It’s a shared win. When I walk across that stage, I feel like I’m carrying them with me. It’s a celebration of what we managed to do together, not just what I’ve achieved on my own.
In a world where learning never really ends, what does ‘graduating’ mean to you – and what kind of impact do you want to make with what you’ve learned?
For someone like me, curious, adventurous, and a bit of a risk taker, graduating isn’t the end. It’s a stepping stone. It’s that moment at the top of the mountain when you finally get a clear view of what’s on the other side. It gives perspective, but it also makes you hungrier for what’s next.
“This moment feels like living proof of something I’ve carried with me for years.”
-João Gomes
Coming from an unconventional career path, this moment feels like living proof of something I’ve carried with me for years.
A quote, from Ralph Waldo Emerson, I’ve written in every notebook, reads: “Don’t go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” That’s what this MBA means to me. Not a finish line, but a foundation. With everything I’ve learned, my goal is to keep building, keep exploring, and hopefully open up paths for others to follow too.
What is the single most memorable aspect of your studies that you will remember long after graduation?
It’s hard to pick just one moment, but the ones that stick with me all have something in common. They were the times when the line between teacher and student disappeared, and it just became people sharing knowledge, experiences and challenging each other’s thinking. That’s a crucial part of the PBS experience.
I remember we pushed the conversation with our economics teacher around Bitcoin and the impact of blockchain on the financial system, and he booked an extra session to discuss it with us. Or when we were swapping book recommendations, not just between classmates but with the faculty too. Articles, podcasts, and ideas flying around the (virtual) room. It stopped feeling like a classroom and started feeling like a collective. Those were moments of true exchange.
That’s what I’ll carry with me long after graduation.
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