MBlog07

[Debbie] Best four months ever!

I haven't done this much learning since I was a toddler.  Instead of going "Look ma, I can walk!" I'm going, "Look ma, I know why the nice lightbulbs are cheaper than the shitty lightbulbs!"  And ma goes, "That's nice, dear. Eat your mashed potatoes."  Man, I love those potatoes.  Once I finish them I'm going to start a cult so I can get the word out about MLOG.

This time last year, before I got into MIT, I had half as much confidence. But by finishing a mess of hard assignments, by working with accomplished global thinkers, and by tackling impossible but important and relevant problems, I've changed.  Last year I would have shrugged and said, "There's no way I can do that."  Now I can say, "Let's see what I can do."  And if I can't do it, I'll find someone who will.

I never had such career aspirations as I have now.  I can choose between companies and industries and coworkers.  I can have a lot more input into how problems are tackled.  I can apply my math and conversational skills and save a lot of money and time, and make lots of people happy!  How cool can life get?

All my fall classes were interesting and intelligent.  I loved it all, except for database management - and best of all, the problems I had in that class are being addressed.  I'm rather blown away by how well professors and support staff use feedback here.  I feel like my opinion counts.  I've never experienced that at any other school.

Another special, completely unexpected highlight of the semester was Professor Saar's leadership course.  I've taken personality tests before, but only in a vacuum.  By analyzing my soft skills in a structured setting, and giving them context, I have tripled my self-awareness and collected important action items for next semester.  MIT may make me a nicer person!

Superlative count: 20.  Exclamation count: 5.  I promise more in the next(wonderful) entry.(!)

[Chris] HALF WAY!!!!

We did it.....MLOG '07 made it half way through the first semester!! Yesterday morning I took the last final for the first semester, and the moment I turned the test in I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Instead of looking ahead to what still needs to be done next semester and beyond, I'm just going to enjoy the moment and think about what my classmates and I have just accomplished. Its an incredible feeling to know that I just finished one semester at MIT. I really can't explain it. To make things even better, I now have 2 weeks of vacation in Michigan, followed by 2 weeks in Europe, and finally, 2 weeks of IAP (independent activity period). I can't think of a better way to end a hectic semester.

One last thing - I'd like to say thanks to Darris and Hupp for all their help in our networking class. Merry Christmas and happy new year!!!

[Josh] Half-way begun

I'm not sure if the title of this blog is Queen's English, but it is an accurate expression of how I am feeling (plus, "begun" rhymes with "dun":). Though the first semester is almost over, I am just as excited, and perhaps overwhelmed, about the thought of next semester starting. In some ways, it is as if the first semester was just a primer for the second. Hopefully we are now deep enough into our theses to be dangerous, but little "real" progress has been made. For me I am hoping to get over the hump during my x-mas vacation...yes, a bit ambitious. For others, they are hoping and planning to get ahead during IAP...and maybe still others are hoping to put it off as long as possible (you know who you are and I applaud you).

As I look at a potential course schedule for next semester, I quickly forget how hard these classes really are, and instead focus on all the interesting and fun topics that I could take. What other Sloan courses can I slip in amongst by ESD supply chain courses? Can I manage to take some economics or political science courses? Would Chris Caplice every sign off on a course in music or history...well, I know the answer to that one.

There is so much going on here and one academic year does not seem to be nearly enough time to do it justice. I wonder if the 2 and 4 year students feel the same about the time they have here.

At the same time, there is still so much to see and do in Boston and Cambridge. I wonder if we can arrange credits for St. Patrick's day?