There truly is something special about spending time on any University campus. The students, athletics, excitement, energy, etc. It is definitely a dynamic place to be. I feel like, in the same way we form relationships with other people, we form relationships with school. In fact, it is the hope that we formed such a great relationship that we eventually want to give back financially to our respective institution. I digress. After spending 7 straight years here, I am currently finishing my last fall semester at the University of Utah. I basically should be an MD by now.
When I started college, campus was filled with familiar faces. The library was often more of a social experience than an academic one. Today, on the off chance that I do leave my only building, I don't recognize any of the far-too-young-to-be-in-college faces I see around. Everyone has long since graduated. But I'm left with millions of great memories of campus. I love to run into people who were part of my undergrad experience and reminisce about all of the good times. They are abundant. But almost without fail, the conversation ends up at a point where the person says to me, "You are so lucky to be in school still." And then, "I miss it..." with that dreamy look in their eyes. This is always such an interesting phenomenon to me. I think something happens to people after they're out of school for an undetermined amount of time. Much like following the break-up of a long-term relationship, we seem to forget all of the pain and suffering and remember only on the good times. I call it selective memory. For whatever reason, finals week doesn't seem to be a part of anyone's memory of college. Term papers, what are those? Stress? Don't know it. Late, late nights of Red Bull and Doritos... never happened. Forget about tuition. No no, everyone who has graduated can only remember the good stuff. You know, learning. Expanding their minds. Blah, blah, blah...
As I head into finals and my thesis proposal defense this week, let me be the one to remind you why you broke up with school, ie: graduated. School is hard. Tests, papers, tuition, projects, presentations, grades... They ran your life. Its uncomfortable, stressful, and in my case, interminable. Particularly right now, I don't think I can hear another person tell me how much they miss being in school.
Trust me...you don't.
Ha, funny & true. I definitely feel nostalgic when I think about or go back to visit BYU. It's easy to remember the good times & harder to remember how stressful it all was. But it sure is a unique time of life. Way to go on getting your masters. I am way impressed.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a little like childbirth. Long, horrible, but an accomplishment when it is all over with. And then somehow after some time has passed, you think, "It wasn't so bad. In fact, I remember having a lot of fun. Okay, here we go again!!!" Be careful what you say, in the end you might just have a family of 3 beginning with the letters: B, M, & Ph.
ReplyDeleteGood luck this week on finals!! xoxo