Stacey Zhao, GMBA Class of 2017

Standing in the middle of the desert, with no sign of civilization and camp gear weighing a ton on my back, suddenly a gunshot rang out. Sand flew in every direction. Only visible were the tiny specks of people already miles ahead.  Then there were just dunes and scarabs and the wind. I was reminded of weekly practices around the Tsinghua track and the mandatory trip to practice at a man-made desert a few hours outside of Beijing. There were months to prepare, but not for this. We had already flown hundreds of miles into Yinchuan and driven far into the desert, so there was no turning back.

Global MBA teammates bask in the glory of their conquest.

Rolling back a few months, Tsinghua SEM announced students could sign up for a three-day, 70 km race through the desert. Although it would be the ultimate test of endurance, I knew it would also be an incredible way to bond with my classmates, as well as part-timers and MBA’s from all over China and internationally. In the 5^th year since it was founded, the event planners had forged a reputation for themselves, returning this time with 1200 students from 54 universities and 6 different countries.

Team Tsinghua Desert Fox sports its colors (and medals) as one.

The three days through the desert offered lessons about teamwork in the midst of competition. Not breaking from the larger group was a critical survival tool in the face of beckoning fatigue and the loneliness of our own voices in the desert. I heard from my teammates who took the lead that other runners could help them reach for a salt pack or put water back into their backpacks. Making friends helped them get valuable information about directions and distances to the next coveted check point.

Team Tsinghua Desert Fox sports its colors (and medals) as one.

We pitched our own tents and set out to celebrate at our camps with concert and drones before nightfall. There was no signal and no toilets. The next day we awoke sore and demoralized by exhaustion.  I was not feeling well after the second day and had left something important a few miles back. Unquestioningly, my classmate ran back with me to retrieve it.  Thanks to his persistence and loyalty, we miraculously caught back up with our separated teammates after the long detour.

Desert Challenge participants traverse the hazards of the desert.

I walked out of the desert that week utterly beaten and ever so proud of these brave men and women, holding a special admiration for those who made it in record time among us.  I did not make any notable time. I barely made it to the end-line. No matter the result, however, it was the journey that made it all worthwhile.