Wow...

Apr 16, 2007 03:36

So, it’s nearly 4 a.m. and I’ve just been watching one of my favorite movies (Almost Famous) and am feeling a little reflective, so I decided that it might be good to finally update my journal for a change. Considering that it’s been nearly 9 months since I’ve last updated, I should have plenty to say.

What’s going on with me you might ask? Well, I’m about to finally graduate. Yes, it’s kind of intimidating to have to finally face up to adulthood and not hide behind the skirt of childhood that is college. So far things are going okay; classes end in just 3 days, after which I have a couple of papers to write, and then I’m done. It’s odd, I’ve wanted to graduate for so long and yet now I’m finding that I wish I could stay. I’ve met so many people this past year and developed such great friendships that I wish I had another year to spend with them.

That’s not to say that I think those friendships will end. It just will be different, and over the course of my life I’ve learned that different doesn’t always equal bad.

Anyway, I’m kind of jumping ahead of myself and starting at the end when I should be starting at the beginning (the point at which you should start). The fall semester was nothing special. I went to class, hungout with friends, and generally had a pretty decent time. I got an awesome work-study position doing research for the Nanotechnology and Society Research group basically looking into how the government is planning to deal with/implement public policy in reference to the technological strides being made within that field. Also during that period I became more active within the UNA, and was able to garner my first award at a conference in November when I won “Outstanding Delegate” in my committee. Shortly thereafter in December, I was nominated for and won the position of Executive Vice President of the UNA. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous that I wouldn’t win. I honestly hadn’t been that outspoken of a person in regards to the direction the club was heading and I was surprised at how many people thought I would do a good job. Anyway, after I won I was pretty pleased and excited to be in a leadership position. Also around that time, I was selected as head delegate for Morocco at the Harvard conference. Considering how nervous I was when I first went to Harvard, it was kind of a full-circle for me to be placed in charge of helping guide delegates in researching and formulating policy, and instructing them how to perform in committee at conference. It was a good way to spend my last conference at Harvard, and ultimately my delegates performed great.

When I came back from break, we almost immediately went out to UCLA to participate in their Model United Nations conference. It was an awesome trip and I got to get so much closer to everyone who went (Lucy, Brie, George, Jason etc.) Ultimately, UCLA wasn’t quite up to our standards of a way a conference should be run, but the time spent out of committee more than made up for it. We got to explore the Westwood area, and generally just have fun.

Once we got back, classes continued as usual, and many of the days have blended together. Like I said, Harvard went well, and I was proud of how my delegates preformed.
About a month ago, Zach left to go and sail around the world as a crewmember aboard super yachts. I was sad to see him go, but it was something that he needed to do for himself. He wasn’t happy with what he was doing here, and you might as well take risks when you’re young and don’t have anything to lose. I’m confident that our strong friendship will endure (after all it did survive my time in FL) and we’ll pick up like nothing has changed when he does eventually get back.

About 2 weeks ago we went to Arab League Nationals where we preformed well. Not as well as last year, but that was to be expected considering the changes the organization went through over the past 12 months. All in all we had a good time and took home some awards.

What struck me the most was a conversation I had on the bus back to Boston. A group of us were sitting in the back just talking about the direction we’d like to see the organization take over the next year, and someone expressed how much respect and admiration they had for me. I don’t think I can convey how truly touched I was, and I am glad that I’ve been able to earn that kind of confidence from a group of such incredible people.

So that basically brings us up to the present. I’ve had to leave out quite a few things (Tuesday pancake nights, “family dinners,” and a couple of conflicts) for times sake, but you all now have a pretty good idea of what I’ve been up to these past few months.

Things are finally coming to a close, and for the first time in a long time I’m confident that I will accomplish what I want to do with my life. Part of that confidence comes from the friendships that I’ve made this past year, and their faith in my ability. I’ve always known that I wanted to do great things, and serve in public office someday. I now feel that with people like this behind me, one day I actually will.

Thanks guys.

And, as always….

I’ll be back
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