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January 14, 2009
Winter A.
A little bit of everything is going on -- Winter A has begun, and I've taken on the "suicide load" of 5 classes, recruiting is in full swing, and MAP assignments are being generated somewhere out of sight, and we've achieved our first sub-zero temperatures (at least while classes are in session).
In brief, we're currently planning the following:
1. Spring Break
2. MAP
3. Summer internship
4. The rest of our lives.
To say it's stressful is a huge understatement. We all know the economy is bad and some companies have decided not to sponsor internships this summer (I had an interview canceled just this morning). I personally came here to do non-profit/social enterprise work, but the flood of other applicants being turned away from the likes of banking and consulting has made the competition for this usually self-selecting arena much more fierce. Many of us are feeling the pinch and are dealing with daily unease, wondering what the worst case scenario is and hoping that, one month from now, we'll feel silly to have even worried about it.
But -- to happier thoughts. MAP selections were due last Sunday and the assignments will come out next week. I personally selected WDI projects -- one with the Acumen Fund in India, another with a hospital in Uganda, a non-profit in the Dominican Republic, CEMEX and Hershey in Mexico (separately!). My domestic choices were all in Chicago, which, while not entirely exotic, still very appealing in their own way.
OH -- and I forgot to mention that the new building has opened! It's only been a week and a half and we seem to be taking it for granted already. It's large and glorious; classrooms have large bright windows, sophisticated AV thingamabobs to play with, there's a bunch of comfy seating and a brand new gym for working out when we're short on time. Most people are pretty happy in the new space (there are some of us, though, who sneak back to the old building for some new-found peace and quiet in the emptiness).
Monday is a holiday from school (those are truly rare), and president-elect Obama becomes the full-fledged commander-in-chief on Tuesday. Even with the bleakness and the freeze, there are still many things to look forward to!
Posted by betdavis at January 14, 2009 01:29 PM