This evening, I received notification from North Carolina State University that I have been officially accepted into their MBA program. This is a goal that I’ve spent a great deal of time over the last three months to achieve. As you can see, I’m really happy about it.Technically, I knew since a couple of Fridays ago that the admissions committee has recommended my application to the Dean. Of course, now it’s official. Or in my book, damn near official. For me it’s official when I get the letter. If they take the time and expense to put it through the US Postal system, they’re serious.
When I received word last Friday, I was in a slight state of denial. I found out when a little voice in the back of my head told me to check my email during lunch. I love that fucking little voice — he, she or it has served me well over the years. I went back to work, deciding that I wouldn’t tell anyone (unless they asked, of course). Nobody noticed the stupid-ass smirk on my face, but that’s probably because I just have a weird looking face anyway, so it’s par for the course.
The Monday after getting the news, I received a number of emails inviting me to join various campus groups and to attend a get-to-know-you party the following Thursday. This was making it more real. It took two days before I mentioned it to my co-workers. I had started wearing a NC State had that I bought, thinking that people would notice I wasn’t wearing the “Crawford University” hat that I wore every day. But nobody noticed.
Thursday rolled around, and I went to my party. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I expected suits and ties. It was too hot for that sort of thing, so I went with slacks and a shirt with a horse sewn into its breast. And a jacket. And my Chuck Taylors. How could it rightly be called a party, if you weren’t wearing the Cons? I was nervous as hell, but started feeling better when I looked around at the crowd. They were people (roughly) just like me. I took my nametag and two blue tickets (for liquor at the bar) and made my way through the crowd.
I should have started at the bar, grabbed a beer and took the edge off. But as I made my way toward a large crowd, I tripped, nearly plowing one of my fellow students to the ground. At least it was a conversation starter. Unfortunately, it was an awkward coversation started with one of my future finance professors. Hopefully, my clumsiness doesn’t translate to the classroom. After a couple of beers and numerous conversations, I felt quite a bit more relaxed. I’m glad I didn’t get falling over drunk, since that would have been counter-productive. I tried to steer myself away from long conversations with sharks (business students that attack you at the first sign of blood). One of my favorite conversations was with the head of the local Net Impact chapter. Net Impact is an organization that believes in “doing good” while making money. I’m not sure if I’d fit in, but it’s definitely worth considering.
All-in-all, this event (called the Wolfpack Welcome) was a great event. It made me feel comfortable with the program, the professors and my fellow students. It also made me feel like I’m moving forward and starting to make the right choices in my life. I’m a lot less nervous now than the day I submitted my admissions application. Now I’m just counting off the days until orientation starts in August. I’m so excited.
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