A Day of Awesomeness

Well, it's time for a long overdue post.

This Sunday I went to an open house for the Master's in Business Administration program at my alma mater, Montclair State University. My mother drove me there for some much needed moral support before going off to run some errands like buying ravioli. I'm nervous, getting less and less sleep every night, and this morning I started feeling nauseous. All of which are signs pointing to good things in the future.

Before the show, I went to the Six Brothers diner to meet up with two of my friends from college: The Catholic Science Geek, who is a Ph. D. candidate at Columbia, and her sister, who is a potential candidate to the Salesian sisterhood and the only person I know who can do a better Sméagol impression than I can. It was fun. They ordered lox and bagels and a California omelette, while I had one of the most delightful gyros I've ever eaten. And of course, we had lots of laughs and awesome times. It makes me feel a lot better to hang out with intelligent young people doing something constructive with their lives.

Then they dropped me off at the open house. I was really well-informed on the MBA program, so I didn't really learn anything new from the actual info session. However, I did get to talk a little one on one with the marketing professor, who has worked on a movie with director John Huston (aka. the voice of the cartoon Gandalf). Awesome! I also spoke for just a little bit with another professor, but not very long, as there was a long line of other inquiring prospective graduates looking to speak with professors. But she recommended that I just get a foot in the door somewhere career-wise and begin networking. Speaking of which, I'm kicking myself now because I didn't think to talk to any of the other prospective students. I definitely need to work on my skills with meeting total strangers. But the open house was very bustling and not at all the atmosphere for sitting down over tea and getting to know somebody the way I like to. I'll make a note of it to do that in the future, at least when I know I'm in a program. On the plus side, I did learn a couple things about financing grad school.

And one of the other awesome things was to go to the 7th floor of University Hall and look out the window. It was a clear day, and I could see everything spread out beneath my feet, including New York in the distance. And I could see the Empire State Building towering over the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan and away south, the Freedom Tower under construction. Looking at New York is beginning to make me feel just a little bit like home.

I could tell that there's tension in the air regarding jobs and the markets and student loans. But I'm beginning to feel that opportunity is out there, and that there really is a place for me somewhere. I'm beginning to feel that the sky's the limit. I may have to wait, and I may have to proceed very slowly and cautiously. But I'm beginning to feel that I'm following in the footsteps of my ancestors, and that I'm on my way up, no matter what.

Searching for grad schools is intimidating, especially in Business Administration. I don't have any experience in business or knowledge of economy. It's been years since I took a real math class. But knowing three people in Ivy League schools, all from the same floor I lived on in college, is a real inspiration. It definitely makes me feel that I'm in good company and gives me the confidence to share and contribute some of the things my life has been filled with. I have writing skills, skills with foreign languages, reading and analytical skills, and a small amount of experience as a leader. I value people, hard work, status and achievement, and sharing. I really think I could make a successful mark somewhere in the world. Good night!