We Should Totally Stay in Touch. Totally.
D. Craig Elbert (WG'09) Publisher
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Perspectives
It's tough to believe, but it's almost
over. We have less than a month left.
Then this thing that has profoundly
shaped all of our lives over the past
months, causing heartbreak, joy and
occasional vomiting, will be done.
Can you believe that the Dancing
with the Stars Season 8 finale is approaching
so quickly on May 17th?!
And, as if that wasn't enough emotional
turmoil itself (it already takes
seven Bacardi Breezers and a pillow
of tears for me to even flirt with
sleep), I've heard that some of us are
graduating. Of course, I won't mention
names to preserve the suspense
of the ceremony.
Like most second years, I'm spending my last weeks at Wharton primarily boasting incessantly about how I plan to spend my last weeks at Wharton (i.e. partying in a look-at-my-krazy- Facebook-pictures manner) and explaining ad nauseam that I'm sooo over classes, because, like whatever.
I also intend to immerse myself in inane nostalgia. This means, I will pause at random points throughout the day to reflectively note that, "Just think; this is the last time we're ever going to…" Then I will ramble on about some ridiculously boring event. Please, everybody do the same. It won't get annoying at all! Just think; this is the last time we're ever going to check our mail folders.
(Here I will shake my head, suck my teeth and marvel at what a profound realization I've just made. I also might playfully punch you on the shoulder and call you "pal" in a wistful tone of voice.) Man, I love my mail folder! Without my mail folder, how would I ever accumulate a dozen grainy photocopies of the same ancient newspaper article that is supposed to convince me to do all of my custom tailoring (all of my custom tailoring? Ha!) with a guy who shares a name with a professional wrestler. Fine, I'd trust a guy named 'Rock' to sharpen my kitchen knives or even check my transmission, but to stitch and measure delicate foreign fabric?
Just think; this is the last time we're ever going to read Toyota case studies. Actually, and not to freak you out, but this is the last time we will probably ever encounter Toyota because IT IS A MADE-UP COMPANY.
Okay, I kind of feel like I'm slaughtering the business school Easter bunny here, but the truth is that Toyota was invented by HBS because coming up with cases to exemplify all business concepts is just impossible. Also, Michael Dell? Fictional character. Come on, doesn't that name just reek of a fictional character from an introductory creative writing seminar?
Finally, just think; this is the last time we're ever going to nod at one another awkwardly passing in the hallway, after quietly gauging if we are indeed on hallway nodding terms. Instead, from here on out we will just meet at random alumni events, professionally sip gin cocktails and promise to totally stay in touch. Here have a business card! (Here I will again playfully punch you on the shoulder and call you "pal" in a wistful tone. You will laugh and reciprocate, I hope.)
Of course, as our time comes to a close there is also a tinge of desperation as we strive to accomplish all we set out to do. Graduation is an emotional time. And by emotional time, I mean a breeding ground for sexually transmitted diseases and last minute hookups.
For me, that desperation is more about trying to say all of the things that didn't quite fit into any other columns. Like a reference to "monkey laryngitis" - it's difficult to fit that into the context of a column about business school, but it sure is fun to say. Monkey laryngitis!
Or maybe fitting in that dream I had of Anjani Jain as a magical wizard with an awesome collection of wizard hats that he created with Excel Solver and an optimized mixture of nuts. Well, okay, maybe now you are realizing that there was a reason some ideas "didn't fit" into past columns. You might also be realizing at this point that I didn't "spend time" on this column or "turn it in on time." But whatever; I'm sooo over doing work. And, besides I'm knee deep in Bacardi Breezers anticipating Dancing with the Stars. Then again...
Just think; this is the last time I'll ever have a chance to make a joke about jorts, unicorns and online karate lessons. Thank God.
Like most second years, I'm spending my last weeks at Wharton primarily boasting incessantly about how I plan to spend my last weeks at Wharton (i.e. partying in a look-at-my-krazy- Facebook-pictures manner) and explaining ad nauseam that I'm sooo over classes, because, like whatever.
I also intend to immerse myself in inane nostalgia. This means, I will pause at random points throughout the day to reflectively note that, "Just think; this is the last time we're ever going to…" Then I will ramble on about some ridiculously boring event. Please, everybody do the same. It won't get annoying at all! Just think; this is the last time we're ever going to check our mail folders.
(Here I will shake my head, suck my teeth and marvel at what a profound realization I've just made. I also might playfully punch you on the shoulder and call you "pal" in a wistful tone of voice.) Man, I love my mail folder! Without my mail folder, how would I ever accumulate a dozen grainy photocopies of the same ancient newspaper article that is supposed to convince me to do all of my custom tailoring (all of my custom tailoring? Ha!) with a guy who shares a name with a professional wrestler. Fine, I'd trust a guy named 'Rock' to sharpen my kitchen knives or even check my transmission, but to stitch and measure delicate foreign fabric?
Just think; this is the last time we're ever going to read Toyota case studies. Actually, and not to freak you out, but this is the last time we will probably ever encounter Toyota because IT IS A MADE-UP COMPANY.
Okay, I kind of feel like I'm slaughtering the business school Easter bunny here, but the truth is that Toyota was invented by HBS because coming up with cases to exemplify all business concepts is just impossible. Also, Michael Dell? Fictional character. Come on, doesn't that name just reek of a fictional character from an introductory creative writing seminar?
Finally, just think; this is the last time we're ever going to nod at one another awkwardly passing in the hallway, after quietly gauging if we are indeed on hallway nodding terms. Instead, from here on out we will just meet at random alumni events, professionally sip gin cocktails and promise to totally stay in touch. Here have a business card! (Here I will again playfully punch you on the shoulder and call you "pal" in a wistful tone. You will laugh and reciprocate, I hope.)
Of course, as our time comes to a close there is also a tinge of desperation as we strive to accomplish all we set out to do. Graduation is an emotional time. And by emotional time, I mean a breeding ground for sexually transmitted diseases and last minute hookups.
For me, that desperation is more about trying to say all of the things that didn't quite fit into any other columns. Like a reference to "monkey laryngitis" - it's difficult to fit that into the context of a column about business school, but it sure is fun to say. Monkey laryngitis!
Or maybe fitting in that dream I had of Anjani Jain as a magical wizard with an awesome collection of wizard hats that he created with Excel Solver and an optimized mixture of nuts. Well, okay, maybe now you are realizing that there was a reason some ideas "didn't fit" into past columns. You might also be realizing at this point that I didn't "spend time" on this column or "turn it in on time." But whatever; I'm sooo over doing work. And, besides I'm knee deep in Bacardi Breezers anticipating Dancing with the Stars. Then again...
Just think; this is the last time I'll ever have a chance to make a joke about jorts, unicorns and online karate lessons. Thank God.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Business Stationary
posted 7/14/09 @ 2:32 PM EST
Cool title :)
I think that networking is critical, and proper biz cards and such should make that a little easier.
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