Welcome to Alumni Weekend! As this was the first opportunity to introduce the new building to many of the people who paid for it, it was kind of a big deal. I attended the formal dinner at the Fairmont Hotel downtown last night. As I am interested in event-planning, I was incredibly impressed by the centerpieces which were fashioned to imitate the arches of the Winter Garden in Hyde Park Center. They gave several awards to various alumni for service, accomplishment, etc. Each recipient gave short and appropriate remarks, and all was right with the world. It was surprising staid and, sadly, exactly what I thought one of these uptight dinners would be like.
I ended up at a table in the corner with several other students. It felt a little like sitting at the kid’s table for Thanksgiving. We were tolerated but definitely not an integral part. I had the opportunity to talk with an alumnus from Kansas City. We compared notes on Accounting, and he reassured me that he didn’t actually learn accounting until after graduation. So there is hope for me…
I left a little early, (before the dancing started), so that I could complete my part of our marketing assignment. I put in a good three hours and then hit the hay. I got up early this morning to check out the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization (CEO) Conference at Navy Pier. I was immediately put off when they couldn’t find my name tag and materials. They could account for my hefty registration fee, they just couldn’t find whatever that bought me. It was irritating. I heard from three acclaimed entrepreneurs who had vastly different approaches to entrepreneurship and yet all said the same thing. Only you can make it happen. It was very motivating!
I then attended a session on the first year of start up for a new company given by a GSB alum. It was interesting to hear his trials and tribulations, as he’s going through some of them now. He answered questions honestly and presented well. I did give a resume to one of the companies that were recruiting for an intern. I don’t know that I am even remotely interested, but it seems like recruiting is a habit now. Somebody stop me!
I headed back to Hyde Park this afternoon to get mentorship training, so that I can help out undergrad students. It wasn’t rocket science in terms of the material, but it was interesting to meet other minority students in the medical school, the public policy school, the social services administration school, etc. We had a chance to talk about issues we’re thinking about. It was great to hear a different perspective and to know that students in other schools are facing some of the same issues that we are.
At long last, I’ve returned to my ramshackle house and again bemoan the fact that it is a wreck. I’ve got about four loads of laundry on the floor in the bedroom, at least 3 weeks of handouts, etc. on the bed in the guestroom, and a week of dishes in the kitchen sink. I obviously have things that I should be doing, but I really feel the need to curl up on the couch and watch “Cheaters” amid the disarray. Tomorrow, I will have my pre-dinner with the company I’m interviewing with on Tuesday. So I’d much rather use these few precious hours to remember who I am and that I do not revolve around the various directions I seem to constantly be pursuing all at once. Compared to Pricing strategies and Cash Flow statements, cheating spouses seem pretty simple and straight forward. There is also the added benefit of making my mere student’s existence look pretty good in comparison.