I made it! I am now an official Wharton MBA and no longer a student. It was great to celebrate with family and friends. Thanks to all who sent their congrats!
It's now time to move on to the next chapter. Time to work, make some money, and set my family up.
Today was my last class as a student. Bittersweet feeling. I enjoyed being a student and am sad that one long chapter of my life is somehow "over." I'm glad of this small accomplishment: completing 20 years of schooling. Wow!
Today in Dyson's class I had the distinct pleasure to meet with Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. I admire the man who writes his soul on the line for all to see, attack, acknowledge, love, and hate. That takes courage. After reading their words this semester, getting to know them on a more personal level was truly an honor.
I represented Wharton at the Chaka Fattah Conference on Higher Education today. I spoke to minority undergraduates about professional life, higher level degrees, and such. I was subbing for Rodney Morrison of our Admissions Office because he asked me to stand in for him. I'm glad I did. It's important to give back esp. to our youth. Why people can't seem to take the time is beyond me. How can we expect a better world if we don't enable the next generation to make it? At any rate, it did my heart good to see all those students inquire about business and not one asked about money!
There are three African Americans that are running for Wharton Graduate Association President this year. I think this is great not because guranteed one of "us' will ge in office, but because of the non-racial character. Elections here are done by slate, so you elect the Pres and his/her Exec VP's all at once. The slates are "multicultural." What's so good is that these brothers are running on the issues and their platforms and it's my perception that that is how people are deciding for whom to vote. That's REALLY important. If we are ever to get beyond race in this country, we need to decide on candidates based on factors other than skin color. Sadly, we don't do that "in the real world"...yet. Keep hope alive! :)
I stepped out and am taking a non-Wharton course in African American Studies called "Race, Religion, and Critical Theory." I picked it to study with Prof. Dyson whom I had the pleasure to hear speak at the WMY conference. It has some heavy reading, but good nonetheless. I think after taking/teaching 6 classes last semester and helping to run a conference that I can indulge myself in my interests. It looks to be a sweet labor of love too.