For current Brown '09

<p>What’s your plan these days? Is it what you had planned when you walk through VW Gate 3.5 years ago? Regrets? Would you do anything differently?</p>

<p>I felt it’s interesting to get some feedback from you guys out there (calling all lurkers! come out!)… Funny how life at Brown is really a journey, and not a destination at all.</p>

<p>As for myself: came here thinking I’ll major in biochemistry – scrapped that after a week of classes. Took applied mathematics classes because I knew the department was very strong here (a foolish reason, yes. but if you don’t know what you like, isn’t it a logical decision?). Ended up being one of the better students in the subject, and taking some grad level AM courses these days.</p>

<p>Career-wise: had no idea what i wanted to do entering college. got caught up in the investment banking craze, and did pretty well for myself. spent last summer in a fancy institution in NYC, and was completely disgusted by the large amount of fluff people throw around when trying to make a point. scratch that. currently applying to graduate school in statistics, and things are well under way.</p>

<p>Current plans: maximizing my utility under my intense senioritis. making fun of friends still trying to get a job in investment banks. posting on internet forums while i have a cryptography exam in 1h… </p>

<p>Regrets: nothing, really. maybe i should’ve really said hi to that cute sophomore in my section. time is running out. probably also explore new england a little bit. nothing in an academic sense, though.</p>

<p>I wish I had twice the time I actually had for classes. I did end up doing chemistry like I envisioned, but instead of going off to grad school for chem I'm sticking around a fifth year for a master's in Ubran Education Policy here at Brown.</p>

<p>There are things I'd do differently, I guess. But, my experience was great, and I actually think it's remarkable that I've grown in every sense of the word. I can honestly say I'd laugh at my freshman self and that I've come really far-- not what I expected. I saw that to be the case in high school, but I figured this growth process would start to slow down as I get older. I swear in the last four years I've grown more than any four in my entirely life.</p>

<p>And you should come to the Loui's holiday party at 5 after that final. I'll only be there the first hour, but who can complain about free Loui's and great company.</p>

<p>You know Ive really become a development nerd and I must say I grew in responsibility from 18-22 but in terms of really growing up 24-25 (my current age) has been something else entirely. Emerging adulthood isn't supposed to start until 25 at the minimum so they currently say. I think this is somewhat accurate.</p>

<p>Modestmelody: </p>

<p>I echo the comment on 'growing'. It is very interesting to look back and say to myself, "Gee, I really didn't know what I was talking about, huh?". One of my good friend just had lunch with his junior from prep school, who just entered Brown this semester. Throughout the course of the meal, the junior was trying to tell my friend what courses to take, who are the best professors, where are the best places to eat et cetera! Needless to say, that didn't leave a good impression on my friend. But, hey, I might be a little bit like that during freshman year.</p>

<p>Come to think about it, I was extremely excited to go to Brown, to the point that I ruminate over every little detail before I actually undergo my Brown education. Heck, during freshman year I mapped the courses I wanted to take for the next 3 years. Little did I know that those plans meant nothing in the grand scope of things.</p>

<p>Steve Jobs delivered a wonderful graduation speech at Stanford, several years back. I suppose his main point was it is impossible to map your future. All you can do do what feels 'right', and only after a certain journey you can look back and 'connect the dots'.</p>

<p>Text</a> of Steve Jobs' Commencement address (2005)</p>

<p>I'd love to have that speech delivered on my graduation day.</p>