Chris M. '12 | September 10, 2009
"What it's like being back"
School is back in session, and I know the question burning in the back of everyone's mind is "Chris, WHAT have you been doing?" (or depending on the converstaion, it might be "Chris, what have YOU been doing?", but under no circumstances "Chris, what have you BEEN doing?", that's just akward). Despite what exploring the akward intricacies of inflection and their effect in the English language would have you believe, I've had a lot to do and thus unsurprisingly, I've kept pretty busy. Yes, since my last post about my time in California for LiveScribe, I've flown to and from California twice more, and to Arkansas once. (Frequent flier miles would've been a good idea.) I spent the last week and a half visiting with my family and trying to do as little as possible before the deluge of school came. (I was mildly successful).
It was surreal coming back, I think it was one of those moments that helps solidify what it really means to be here. First, there's CPW, where (if you're like me) you see MIT for the first time as a real place and not just a picture in a brochure or a website (or Google Street View if you're really obsessed).
Then there's that dizzying moment on the first day of classes where you just can't seem to take it all in, you feel like you Have Truly Found Paradise. Then that one sobering moment sometime after where you realize that you're really here, on your own, away from your family.
Before long you gain a very personal understanding of what IHTFP really means. Then there's the moment where you come back and you realize that this isn't like a summer camp, that the year before wasn't the race, it was just the first leg--and by some ways the easiest one. It's the moment you really understand that you're a student here, that for the next few years this is the largest part of your life.
Like an aimless spectre you open doors and see flashes of yesteryear; smells trip unexpected memories like gossamer landmines good and bad. You walk the halls that housed you on the hottest carefree days and the coldest tooling nights, seeing people who've left your life and those who are new additions. It all comes rushing back to you and you feel a familiar dizzying, overwhelming feeling like you did just one year ago, but this time there's something different. Something's changed. Now you know what you're in for, you know the sleepless nights and frustrations are never far away, but this knowledge can't seem to remove the exhilarating smile on your face. And it's in that masochistic moment that you realize who you are. That this is what you're made for.
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Chris, what HAVE you been doing? =p
Google Street View sounds like a good idea.
And I know you've heard this plenty before, but your blog posts are amazing. I love your style and your sense of humor. =)
Posted by: Lydia AK on September 10, 2009 09:40 PM
Nice post. =)
I'm hoping that your writing skills will miraculously transfer to me when I'm writing my college essay.
Posted by: Justin L. on September 11, 2009 12:46 AM
Prof: MIT folklore! For example, (looks at me) what does IHTFP mean?
Me: ... Institute Has The Finest Professors.
It earned some class laughter. That is my IHTFP story of the day.
I like this post.
Posted by: Piper '12 on September 11, 2009 12:50 AM
"And it's in that masochistic moment that you realize who you are. That this is what you're made for."
These one-liners are the ones why I love your posts :)
Posted by: Shreya on September 11, 2009 01:57 AM
The last paragraph makes me yearn even more!!!!
WOW!
Posted by: Akeed on September 11, 2009 10:24 AM
So is a "converstaion" how scientists talk? XD
Posted by: Ash on September 11, 2009 11:16 AM
"Google Street View if you're really obsessed"
lol ..i'm one of them ..
that last 2 paragraphs are amazing,a perfect example of 'show not tell'.
gr8 post ..
Posted by: navdeep on September 11, 2009 11:37 AM
Very good place
Posted by: streetwear on September 11, 2009 02:20 PM
Oh man... your posts make me REALLY REALLY hope to get in even more.
Ps. That last paragraph is excellent.
Thank you for this exceptional post.
Posted by: VAL '14? on September 11, 2009 05:02 PM
Time off went way too quick!!
Posted by: Hockey Jerseys on September 11, 2009 06:42 PM
Thanks, Chris.
Posted by: Tim on September 11, 2009 06:43 PM
Posts like this are what made me fall in love with MIT. =) Thank you, truly.
(Also, maaaybe you could pull off "Chris, what have you been DOING?" Just a thought!)
Posted by: Natalia ('14?) on September 12, 2009 02:48 PM
First time I've read of these blog posts; defnitely not the last (=
Mind if I quote you?
Posted by: Danielle on September 12, 2009 05:53 PM
@Danielle
Of course not, go for it!
@Everyone Interested
I'll do a blog about what I've been up to soon. I've been doing exciting things!
Posted by: Anonymous on September 13, 2009 12:51 AM
Hey Chris,
I met Hawkens, thought I should say hi!
Posted by: JB '13 on September 13, 2009 01:44 PM
Awkward, Chris. Awkward.
Posted by: Anon on September 14, 2009 12:45 AM
@Anon.
What do you mean?
Posted by: Chris on September 14, 2009 01:09 AM
Before long you gain a very personal understanding of what IHTFP really means. Then there's the moment where you come back and you realize that this isn't like a summer camp, that the year before wasn't the race, it was just the first leg--and by some ways the easiest one. It's the moment you really understand that you're a student here, that for the next few years this is the largest part of your life.
Posted by: Deen Muhammad on September 14, 2009 01:12 AM
CHRIS, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING? It's 3am and I don't think you've started on 18.03 yet. It's due tomorrow.
CHRIS, what HAVE you BEEN doing? That's the most awkward permutation I can come up with.
Posted by: hwkns on September 14, 2009 03:04 AM
