That’s Enough

Remember when you were young and people would ask “do you feel different now that you’re x years old?”  Well, the answer was always “not really!”.  You might not say it, but you surely thought it.

Today was the end to my first semester of grad school.  It was a good ending – the topic of my final presentation was to talk about what I saw in my professional future with this degree.  I was surprised to find myself considering a PhD (shh, don’t tell anyone!).  I was not surprised to find myself looking toward consulting … writing … and teaching.

Unlike my classmates in their early/mid 20s, I’m looking at a limited future.  They think that five or ten years is long into the future … I feel like it will roll around tomorrow or next week at the latest.  They have hopes and fears that I dropped along the way, and I have a perspective and sense of humor that they will take years to develop.  It was an interesting presentation to develop, and I walked out with more of a sense of respect for these young women that I had all semester.

I have four full weeks now until the next semester begins.  I’ve already mapped out projects to work on over this break – and maybe, if gas stays under $1.50/gallon and the temperature stays about 20 degrees, I’ll take a little day trip here and there.

Tomorrow evening is a party for our department, students and faculty, at Chad & Margi’s.  I’ll bake some banana bread tomorrow so I can bring it warm from the oven.  And then – time flows again at my choice.

Now that I’ve finished my first semester of grad school do I feel any different?  Nope, not really.  Just more of the same feelings that have been growing since August – gratitude, a sense of the privilege and responsibility that learning can be, more hope for my own future.  That’s enough.