Ready or Not, Graduation Here I Come!

I'm ready...

  • To no longer share a bathroom: Fighting for the toilet at 7:30am when you first wake up and really have to pee is not fun, nor is dealing with someone else's MESS!
  • To have a kitchen again: Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, your prepared foods sections have treated me well for the last two years, but I'm really to make somre real food of my own once more (or at least try not to poison myself).
  • To have a bi-weekly, regular paycheck! 'Nuff said.
  • To be living with my two chihuahuas again. Bella and Bailey, you are a source of endless, unconditional love and I miss you like crazy!
  • To come home in the evenings and be able to veg in front of the television/computer without having cases to read for the next morning. I'm tired of watching Dancing With the Stars, Grey's Anatomy and Glee on my 16" computer screen.

I'm not ready...

  • To say goodbye to all of my wonderful international friends who will be jetting back to their home countries half-way (or farther) around the world. I will miss you all, and I hope that someday I am rich enough to come visit you all. Jun, I will start saving NOW so that I can come to your wedding in Japan!
  • To leave behind the wonderful resources that exist at HBS: My amazing professors who are a hotbed of the most cutting-edge research and knowledge; my fantastic career coach Jana (and all of her colleagues at MBA Career & Professional Development) who always have a pep talk ready; the beautiful Baker Library with its endless tools to help you expand your mind; and of course my brilliant classmates, who have taught me that I am NOWHERE near as smart as I thought I was...and I'm all the better now because I learned so much from you.
  • To forfeit my student discount at movie theatres, museums, art galleries, etc. (Why, oh why, Harvard University do you so clearly mark the expiration date on these things? Ok, I know it's for safety reasons, but I do love me some discounts.)
  • To have to squeeze myself into formal business clothes every morning. Sweats and my Converse sneakers make for a wonderfully comfy day.
  • For all my memories to fade. I find that, much as we try to hold on to every little detail, our minds must move on and sacrifice memories of old moments to make room for the new. This, in part, is why I chose to write a blog. Thankfully, many of my favorite times at HBS have been chronicled here, where they will remain forever accessible.

Less than two months until graduation. I can't believe how fast two years has gone.

13 Responses to "Ready or Not, Graduation Here I Come!"

Tausha responded on April 3, 2010 at 7:29 PM #

"I find that, much as we try to hold on to every little detail, our minds must move on and sacrifice memories of old moments to make room for the new. This, in part, is why I chose to write a blog. Thankfully, many of my favorite times at HBS have been chronicled here, where they will remain forever accessible."

That's one of the best things about a blog -- being able to look back at the great experiences you've had. I'm sad it's coming to an end soon!

Anonymous responded on April 3, 2010 at 10:47 PM #

have you found a job yet?

Unknown responded on April 6, 2010 at 10:02 AM #

Hi Cooper,

No, no job yet, but I am staying positive and continuing the search. Wish me luck!

Gabby

Anonymous responded on April 6, 2010 at 5:17 PM #

Have most of your classmates found a position? Just wondering, because it seems that it's been tough all around...but things are picking up...

Unknown responded on April 7, 2010 at 5:55 PM #

Hi Cooper,

It's a tough call. I'd say about 50% of my friends have jobs and 50% don't. Most (if not all) of my friends that wanted to do CPG marketing are happily employed, as are most of my friends that wanted to do consulting or non-profit. I know very few people that want to do entertainment (like me!) that have a job and I know the PE/Hedgefund market is hit or miss. It's a mix of the economy and the differing hiring cycles for more non-traditional industries (at least in my opinion).

Gabby

N. Nagajyothi responded on April 14, 2010 at 12:39 PM #

Hi Gabrielle, I am very inspired by your blog.I am a HBS aspirant and i find your blog very motivating.would like you to share this blog on Beat The Gmat blogdirectory.Here is the link:http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/blogs/all
BTG has more than 1 million users and I am sure many other aspirants would be benefited by your blog.

Unknown responded on April 14, 2010 at 1:35 PM #

Hi there,

Thanks for letting me know about Beat the GMAT. I will definitely register my blog with the site.

Gabby

dinesh responded on June 11, 2010 at 8:52 AM #

hi Gabby
I am ardent HBS Aspirant.Due to my stringent schedules i am not able to blog kindly drop me a mail when you see my post.
My Mail Id Is dinesheshwar@gmail.com
Please do not ignore this post.
Thanks a lot for this blog.
/dinesh

Unknown responded on June 12, 2010 at 4:25 PM #

Hi Dinesh,

If you'd like to post your questions to the blog, I'd be happy to answer them! :)

Gabrielle

dinesh responded on June 14, 2010 at 4:17 AM #

Hi Gabby
Thanks a lot for ur timely response
I wanted to measure where I stand on the trajectory towards HBS. I have done a lot of self -observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations but still I Feel that I could be much comfortable if I get an opinion from a HBS Student. To be short some of my career Highlights are
·Work as an App Support Analyst for a Fortune 500 client through a software giant based in India.
·Co-Founder of polythene Bag Manufacturing Company that employs around 100 people.
·One of the board of directors for a charitable trust. Currently we help in providing Education and spreading awareness about Climate change in collaboration with Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN)
·Successfully running two restaurants especially for serving Students
In order to move forward for the betterment of my services towards Society and my fellow men I need greater exposure. Kindly tell me how far am I from my destination, from your view and do suggest me the areas of Improvement wrt HBS
/Dinesh

Meenal Gadre. responded on June 21, 2010 at 7:12 PM #

Hi,
I liked your Graduation post.
I have also written 5 posts on Graduation (High School) but in one of the Indian languages-Marathi.
You can see the pictures in May 2009 and older posts.

I have also seen Salem Witch museum.It was good to know the history of the black magic.

Unknown responded on December 16, 2010 at 8:11 AM #

r u active in this blog... coz quite for sometime i am watchin this page but it still remains the same....Being HBS student how would you rate that guy posted above !!! i too want to know how u interpret

Unknown responded on December 16, 2010 at 8:15 AM #

Hi Priya,

No, I am no longer active on this blog since I have graduated. Feel free to go back and read my entries from my two years at HBS if you please!

Thanks,
Gabby