Looking on the bright side

Sean Thai has a motto that has served him well in his time at the Haworth College of Business, and will continue to serve him well in life. He says, “F-A-I-L basically stands for First Attempt in Learning. Never let the term FAIL bring you down.”

Growing up in Malaysia, Sean’s father was the first person to pique his interest in finance. His father was always dealing with money, investments and making business decisions. Instead of keeping that to himself, he shared his passion and knowledge of finance with his son. When it came time to decide on a university, Sean knew he wanted to study finance at one of the best business schools in the Midwest, while escaping the heat of Malaysia. The excellent reputation of the Haworth College of Business, as well as Michigan’s cooler climate, made Western the obvious choice.

One of the highlights of being a student at WMU Haworth has been the opportunity to connect with business leaders in the community through various events hosted by the college. Seeing professionals who are excited to guide and teach upcoming leaders and being able to learn from their experience has been an exciting and motivating part of Sean’s education. 

As a student during the pandemic, Sean learned to adapt to the life of online learning and was even able to see the positive side. He says, “For business classes, many professors have come up with simulations for us to work on virtually, which proved to be a really interesting way to learn.”

Sean understands that taking risks is not confined to the stock market. “The most beneficial thing I have learned so far as a business student would be the importance of taking risks and being willing to explore further. I have learned to step out of my comfort zone as I continue to learn and grow in my field. It’s important to use our failures as a way to improve and gain knowledge.” 

As Sean gets closer to graduation and starting his career, his goals are to pursue a financial analyst or corporate finance position. Wherever he goes, he will take his positive attitude with him. He says, “Mistakes are definitely bound to happen, but I always look at the bright side of the situation and see shortcomings as opportunities to do better.”