Meagan Hughes
Project One B-My
Night with Michael Dell
It
was a generic college night for me.
I had spent most of the evening slaving away over my business classÕs
homework while watching Fox NewsÕs financial report where Michael Dell was
projecting that his company, Dell Inc., would reach sixty billion dollars in
revenues by the year 2007. Instantaneously,
fatigue hit me. I was waging a
battle to stay awake that I could not win; my eyes were fighting to remain
open. I looked around the room as
a last attempt to maintain consciousness, but my eyes were caught by the
stunning moonlight that was seeping in through my window. I
remained fixed on the wondrous
light until I succumbed to the weight on my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Later that night, I
suddenly awoke in front of my dorm on twenty fourth street. Startled by my sudden change in
scenery, I looked around everywhere trying to find another soul on this
seemingly always busy street. As
far as my eyes could see, I only recognized one other figure who appeared to be
a forty year old man in a business suit a fair distance away. I was unable to explain what was
happening; I had not gone to a frat party, my friends are not this skilled at
practical jokes, and I did not think that I was dreaming. I turned towards the man, now
approaching me, and pondered my next move questioning whether I should run,
scream, or both? I stood there,
frozen by my confusion until I realized that the man was standing next to
me. He looked strangely familiar,
yet I could not place him. I began
to wonder if I was having a nightmare and this was someone here to lecture me
from the Business Honors Program.
He ventured out his hand and declared, ÒHi, IÕm Michael Dell,Ó a smile
never leaving his face. It took a
moment before I became somewhat reassured that I recognized his face from the
news, yet I was still very confused as to what was going on. I introduced myself and warily stuck
out my hand. His professional yet friendly
personality impressed me. ÒLetÕs
begin thenÓ he stated, and we journeyed off.
Thus,
we started the long walk from the University Towers towards campus. I still had no idea where we were
going, nor why, but I obediently followed Dell. A scan of the surroundings left me with the same conclusion
as before; the area was deserted.
No one, not even the homeless people that usually staked out the
corners, was there. I could not
come to terms
with how surreal the experience
was, yet I continued on our lonely walk. Not being able to bear the confusion of what was happening, I
paused and asked, ÒWhat exactly are we doing?Ó ÒI am going to show you around campus,Ó he quickly responded
while maintaining his fast pace.
He crossed Guadalupe and became immersed in the UniversityÕs moonlit campus. I stood there for a minute and then
sprinted off in his direction to catch up.
His
keen sense of direction amazed me.
Most visitors to UT bury their heads in maps to navigate the forty-acre
jungle. However, Dell knew exactly
where we were going which led me to ask, ÒDid you attend the University?Ó
ÒI did; I dropped
out after my freshman year,Ó he enlightened me. ÒÕI was serious about college. I went to class and I did my work. And I would never advocate that young people today pass up
an opportunity for higher education,ÕÓ[3]
he stated. ÒI knew at an early age
what I wanted to do. Through my
business ventures, I had found my calling, and it was not to be a
physician. Previous business
successes gave me the confidence that I needed to start a business. I believed in myself, my dream, and my
methods. I wanted to create a
company that could compete with IBM, and I did so by taking a risk and
investing all of my time and money into my dream. At the time, I refused to tell my parents who would not approve
of dropping out of school, and I decided that if I was not experiencing success
after a year, I would return to school and complete my degree as my parents
wished. I made the choice to leave
on my own and have never looked back.Ó
I started to
ponder whether or not there was something that I would rather be doing than
going to school. Like Dell,
college was never a debatable issue with my parents. Whenever I talked of traveling or mission work, it was
understood that such activities would take place over the summer. In high school, I never took a hiatus
to pursue something other than my education, and my parents made it clear that
what was expected of me in high school would be expected of me in college, if
not more. I had never pondered a
different path until coming to the University of Texas. ÒOne of my professors constantly makes
us question what we desperately desire to be doing at this point in our lives,
whether it be college or not,Ó I declared. ÒFor me, college is where I can find my interests, opinions,
and goals for life. The
experiences that I have as a student at the University of Texas will provide me
with the skills needed to contribute to the world upon graduation. As William B. Lamar said, Ôa cultivated
mind is the guardian genius of democracyÕ, thus I feel education is necessary
for the preservation as well as advancement of our society.Ó
ÒFor most
people, college is an invaluable experience and will allow them to achieve
great success in life. ÔThe
University of Texas at Austin has been a foundation for generations of people
who have gone on to make a positive difference in the worldÕ,Ó[4]
he proudly stated with a sense of belonging. As we traversed through campus, I started to become more
aware of my surroundings. Twenty-fourth
street possessed some of the most beautiful buildings on campus. The trees sheltered the path we were on
while the moonlight established a mysterious aura for the evening. Dell abruptly
turned and headed towards the
tower, leading me between Welch and PaintersÕ Hall.[6]
I looked up and
noticed the giant building in front of us. The stunning lighting of the night only extended the
buildingÕs enormity and grandeur. The
Mediterranean architecture, used on the more recent buildings on campus, captivated
me and its mixture with the moonlight radiated mystique. We stood, encompassed by the shadow of
the tower, studying every detail of what felt to be a familiar building;
however, studying the tower had revealed new depths. Analyzing and noticing universal symbols on the buildings
exterior reminded me yet again of the questions that had been raised
in my world literature class. The
nature elements depicted in the architectural details reminded me once again to
look at my life in the perspective of its relation to the larger world.
ÒI attended
classes here,Ó he nostalgically declared.
ÒThe Will C. Hogg Building was the geology building until 1968, when the
geology department movedÉThe outside still bears the decorations of a geology
building-a geologic frieze and inscription, ÔO Earth what changes hast thou
seenÕ,Ó[7](sic)
he stated. ÒThis is the
headquarters of the College of Natural Sciences. When I was a student at U.T., I was a Biology major in this
college. Offices for the Hogg
Foundation for Mental Health are on the top floor, and the dean of the College
of Natural Sciences occupies the first floor.Ó
ÒThe
Plan II office is in this buildingÓ, I muttered, still captivated by the
beautiful sight.
ÒWhat
are you majoring in?Ó Dell asked as he turned and began to walk towards the
tower.
ÒPlan
II, Business Honors, and Actuarial MathematicsÓ I rambled off, very used to
being asked this question. ÒI
enjoy how each of the programs makes the university seem smaller; they provide
niches.Ó I knew that he did not
have experiences in such small programs; biology is currently the most popular
undergraduate major at the University of Texas.
ÒFor
me, the enormity of the student body and my major played to my advantage. ÔThe University of Texas at Austin is a
very large school. And, well the
benefit of going to a very large school is that nobody really knows what youÕre
doing, so you can drift off and do something else. Like start a businessÕÓ[8]
he boldly stated. He turned to me
and passionately advised, ÒI understand how students can be intimidated. ÔAt a school this size, with an
international reputation for greatness, you might think of yourself as just a
number. However, I recommend that
you choose the number one.ÕÓ[9]
We
stopped once again, and I was startled by the beauty of our surroundings. The south front of the Tower has always
served as a majestic symbol of education, freedom, and growth. The illuminated words Òye shall know
the truth and the truth shall make you freeÓ (John 8:32) were a beacon to all. This statement is what many see as the
purpose of the university. I
turned around to look at the capitol building straight across from the
tower. The two seemed dependent
upon each other; the state would not run smoothly let alone exist if it were
not for the educated, and the university would not excel if it were not for the
funding of the state. The statue
of Washington, with the capital in the background, overwhelmed me with pride as
a student, a Texan, and an American.
ÒThe spirit of Texas is the purest concentration of the American
spirit. Texas is to this country,
what America is to the world. And
there is no greater embodiment of that spirit than The University of Texas at
Austin. During your travels,
remember where you came from, and do right by TexasÓ8 Dell shared as
we began walking around the base of the tower. We stopped when we were beneath six of the shields of the
twelve great universities that adorn the east and west sides of the tower. The moonlight served as a spotlight for
the decorations, as if to stress the influence that these places of immense
learning have had upon the world.
Studying
the surroundings of the university has helped me to better understand its
history and purpose. ÒMy world
literature class recently toured the tower. We explored the historical and symbolical details decorating not
only the exterior of the building, but the interior rooms as well,Ó I casually
stated. One interior room portrays
the history of Texas on its ceiling beams. In another room, the beams posses famous quotes from universally
influential people as well as important people from the university. ÒOur class often ventures to different places
on campus. These places touch you
because of their history, their style, or simply their interaction with the
nature around them. We go there to
learn about ourselves and others often through discovery learning, class
discussion, or reflectionÓ I said.
ÒÕYour
time at this great university [will help] sharpen your sense of discovery and
there is no better catalyst for success than curiosityÕ,Ó[10]
he declared. ÒThe skills you
develop learning outside of the classroom will be invaluable to you in the
future.Ó After devouring every detail of the moonlit tower, we started the
treck down the terraces on the south side of the tower towards the Littlefield
fountain. The view of the capitol and
the city while descending the terraces still took my breath away. It was the same as before, but now it reminded
me of the future and of what I could accomplish with my education from The
University of Texas. The huge office
buildings emerging from the night reminded me of the opportunities that will
come from the Business Honors Program.
I suddenly became aware of the range of things to do after college; I just
had to figure out what I want to pursue and how I can contribute to society.
ÒÕMost who finally
leave this great university never imagine that theyÕre going to change the
world. Yet every one of you
will. How you change the world, is
all up to you to decideÕÓ9 he concluded as we walked. ÒI chose as a young kid to dedicate
myself to different business ventures.
When I was twelve, I started collecting and selling stamps; I even
organized my own auction and earned two thousand dollars selling other peopleÕs
stamps. Then in high school, I
made eighteen thousand dollars selling newspaper subscriptions in Houston. I researched and learned about the
customer, deciding to target people applying for marriage licenses and those
applying for mortgages. Thus, I
became a very successful salesman.
Then I was introduced to the computer, and I realized that I could assemble
them, upgrade them, and then sell them cheaper than computer retail stores were
selling them. Selling directly to
the customer allowed me to have a cheaper product sold by a more educated
salesperson. I expanded my
business in college out of my dorm room until I decided to pursue my computer
business full time, and I dropped out of The University of Texas.[11] I made my mark in business by becoming
the ninth wealthiest person in the United States, being named Chief Executive
Officer of the year, and by most importantly creating a company that is viewed
as reliable and customer oriented.[12] My success is the result of creating a
fair and dependable company.
ÔNever [measure] your success based on the success of others-because you
just might set the bar too lowÕ.Ó
I began to think
about all of the different opportunities that I had here at The University of
Texas. I can pursue basically
anything I want with the degrees that I am working towards and still take
classes out of pure enjoyment.
Plan II serves as the perfect gateway into law or even medical
school. Business honors almost
guarantees me a job and most likely placement in a strong Masters of Business
Administration program. Actuarial
science leads me directly into the highly demanding Actuarial field. ÒWhere do I want to go?Ó I asked
myself. The myriad opportunities
here are almost overwhelming.
Michael Dell sensed
my confusion. ÒÔYou have an
abundance of opportunities before you-but donÕt spend so much time trying to
choose the perfect opportunity that you might miss the right opportunity. Recognize that there will be failures,
and acknowledge that there will be obstacles. But you will learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of
others, for there is very little learning in success,ÕÓ[13](sic)
he shared. ÒYou will figure out
what you want to do after college.
You just have to pursue it whole heartedly and never second guess
yourself; that does not accomplish anything positive. It only detracts from the work that you could do.Ó
The
journey from the tower to twenty-first street passed momentarily. I looked up and realized that we had
arrived at the Littlefield Fountain.
The phenomenal view of the
tower behind the fountain reminded
me of a light house; the illuminated tower, the universityÕs symbol of strength
and guidance, was always visible against the background of the night where as
other buildings succumbed to the dark blend of scenery. We stood there a moment, until he broke
the silence by lightheartedly reminiscing of a past graduation. ÒI gave the commencement speech here
for the class of 2003. I enjoyed
being able to guide those from a place that guided me so much. I even joked about my parents seeing me
on the stage, but not to receive a diploma. The University of Texas did play a major role in my life
even though I did not graduate.
The University was always Ôa source of guidance and counsel for a young
start-up company as a constant resource of talent and support for a growing and
established business, and as the foundation for a dream that this community has
helped to build. I feel a
tremendous connection with this university, and thatÕs why IÕm so honored to be
with you this eveningÕ,Ó13 he declared.
With that we
started walking up twenty-first street along the outskirts of campus. The silence of the night astounded me. There were no ruffles in the trees or
people out and about to disturb us.
Throughout the walk back to my dorm, I reflected upon all of the wisdom and
kindness that Michael Dell had passed down to me that night. I had fully grasped DellÕs character
and although he may have never graduated from the University of Texas, he is a
longhorn. He possesses the drive
and dedication that I see amongst fellow students and alumni. He overcame many obstacles to be able
to do something that he loves. Dell
competes and is successful in the business world by providing a better product
and better services to benefit the customer alone. The main focus is not profits, unlike most Fortune Five-Hundred
Companies. These methods of
business are pure and from the heart, which I desire to practice when I leave
McCombs. I want to succeed, but on
my own terms and in accordance to my own defined morals. Faculty, students, and the university
as a whole always support students to pursue their dreams and their passions,
even if leads students away from the university. These people just want to help you find yourself.
As we walked down
the drag, I yet again began to wonder how Michael Dell knew that leaving school
was a risk he should take. ÒWhere
you scared to leave?Ó I asked.
ÒTo be honest, I
had nothing to lose. If I failed
at my computer business I could go back to school, finish my biology degree and
become a doctor like my older brother.
The University of Texas has a program where you can leave for a semester
and then return with no academic penalty.
Basically, there was no reason not to try my hand at selling computers,Ó[15]
he said. ÒSometimes, you just have
to give your all to something you believe in. You must understand that Ôyou will face tough times and
amazing experiences, you must also commit to the adventure. Just have faith in the skills and the
knowledge youÕve been blessed with and go because regrets are born of paths
never takenÕ.Ó[16]
I suddenly realized that we had reached twenty-fourth street and turned to walk the last four very familiar blocks back to my dorm. The night had given me new hope for what I can accomplish in college and what I will achieve after college. As soon as I had realized just how influential the night had been, we were back in front of University Towers. The exploration of campus had left me exhausted, but I was sad to see the night end. I turned to say goodbye and shake his hand, but he in turn gave me a hug and said Ògoodbye and good luck.Ó Suddenly, a new voice broke in; I closed my eyes in disbelief, hoping that the night would not become more surreal. When I opened them and looked around, I realized that I was back in my dorm room. My homework had fallen to the floor and scattered about. The television screamed of breaking news in financial reportsÉDell Inc. had just announced that they had breached sixty billion dollars in profits for the year and were expecting more.
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