February 23, 2008

• mend & mending

  LAS VEGAS, NEVADA | THE VENETIAN, 17F »

  somehow, i’ve managed to hit the west coast’s two largest cities of sin–reno and vegas–in the span of just five days.  the former was a side trip post-snowboarding in tahoe, breaking even thanks to good luck at the blackjack tables.  the latter, this weekend, a “career trek” to learn more about the hospitality and gaming industries with fellow gsb students. 

  i just arrived from a long day in minneapolis (think thursday night, three-hour red eye plus full friday of being “on”) and initially felt apprehensive about diving into yet another jam-packed weekend.  but now that i’m here, i realize how fortunate i am to be doing things like this: learning, exploring, and lounging in a gorgeous VIP suite at one of the strip’s most ornately themed hotels.  i’m slightly out of my comfort zone, and it’s OK.  for now, it’s good.

  don’t be fooled, though.  life isn’t all luxury and roses.  last week i underwent (very) minor surgery, and am still recovering from my wounds.  it was a rather fitting parallel to my emotional state over the past few weeks.  a bit of blood, a bit of hurt and bruising.  bandages, painkillers, and–yes–mending.  blows of the unexpected kind; gratification of a deferred sort.

  i’d like business school to be an experience better than it feels this quarter.  i think it’s possible to achieve this, but may require a bit of personal and social re-wiring, and likely some re-calibrating of expectations.  sometimes i, along with a not insignificant few, ask myself quizzically: really? me, an MBA?  what was i thinking?

  but being the natural optimist that i (usually, but not always lately) am, i know there is good in here somewhere.  there’s lessons, and insight, and growth.  in fact, lots of growth.  so much growth, it goes a bit underappreciated and overscapegoated.

  there are just three short weeks between now and my second set of finals, which in a way is impossible to fathom.  that means my first year is just over half done.  25% of business school has flown by.  i think of this often, and feel exhorted to truly make the most of this time off of work.  advice i’ve heard lately: do what makes you happy, embrace the bad, and live each moment.  i get it.  i’m no stranger to resilience.

  now let’s go out and win some megabucks.

   

  • 2:24 am
  • 5 Comments