First Year Physics…And All That Jazz!
The First Year Class Has Needed Time to Find Its Way
Selorm Klaye, '08
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: GSB Life
That is to say a complex web and competing and unpredictable forces have all conspired to create a situation with some intended, but more importantly, some unintended consequences. Or put another way the best intentions of DMAC, DSAC, Career Services, 2nd Year students and the self-selection of the inbound class all combined together in Random Walks (pun intended!) to fashion a disengaged 1st year class.
Let's look at a case in point…me. I applied to GSB because I was looking for community, flexibility (to do anything or to do nothing), challenge - and my life's career. And I'm not the only one who was sold on this. But having got here I find myself unclear about which career to pursue, uninspired by many (but not all) of the activities that take place (despite the efforts that have gone into them) and unchallenged by the constant stream of competitions, conferences, and community activities. Again, I'm not alone.
To be fair, admissions did a great job - indeed they did an outstanding job…perhaps they were almost too good. For now, the school has admitted a class that is flexible, competitive and challenged - possibly even more so than its predecessors (which is saying a lot!). And no one can fault the second years for their hard work and encouragement, or indeed the Career Services who, I understand, are in a class of their own.
So should we throw our hand's up in the air/in despair at the futility of trying to control consequences that are otherwise, well…uncontrollable. Well not necessarily! Witness a delinquent ray of light through a triangular glass at slight angle, and what do you see? Yes, a rainbow! We need to change our viewpoint, we need to change our angle - what we need to do is change our perspective!
So to the second part of this piece, and I borrow from two more helpful ideas that prove invaluable in understanding we first years. The first is from Mr Vadali (last issue) who insightfully intimated that each class needs to play it's own jazz - a stunning metaphor if I ever saw one. You have hit the nail on the head, my man! This class needs to play its own jazz!
Let's look at a case in point…me. I applied to GSB because I was looking for community, flexibility (to do anything or to do nothing), challenge - and my life's career. And I'm not the only one who was sold on this. But having got here I find myself unclear about which career to pursue, uninspired by many (but not all) of the activities that take place (despite the efforts that have gone into them) and unchallenged by the constant stream of competitions, conferences, and community activities. Again, I'm not alone.
To be fair, admissions did a great job - indeed they did an outstanding job…perhaps they were almost too good. For now, the school has admitted a class that is flexible, competitive and challenged - possibly even more so than its predecessors (which is saying a lot!). And no one can fault the second years for their hard work and encouragement, or indeed the Career Services who, I understand, are in a class of their own.
So should we throw our hand's up in the air/in despair at the futility of trying to control consequences that are otherwise, well…uncontrollable. Well not necessarily! Witness a delinquent ray of light through a triangular glass at slight angle, and what do you see? Yes, a rainbow! We need to change our viewpoint, we need to change our angle - what we need to do is change our perspective!
So to the second part of this piece, and I borrow from two more helpful ideas that prove invaluable in understanding we first years. The first is from Mr Vadali (last issue) who insightfully intimated that each class needs to play it's own jazz - a stunning metaphor if I ever saw one. You have hit the nail on the head, my man! This class needs to play its own jazz!
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Ritesh
posted 2/14/07 @ 2:21 AM EST
Wow..!!! Understanding both sides in a debate sure is importnant...!!! ....Enjoyed reading your article..
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