Colleagues & Classmates

"Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down." - Unknown

     Moving across the country to start a new job and program has made me incredibly appreciate the importance of the people around me. My wife and I left a ton of family and friends behind when we moved, and I would be lying if I said I were never homesick for either my hometown or my old campus. Keeping in touch has been tough; missing important events that I definitely took for granted at the time has been tougher. I do not know what I would do without my wife, Jenn, as she has been wonderful support in addition to being one of the very few aspects of my life that has remained constant. And my new colleagues and classmates have been wonderful as well.

     I could tell from day one that my new department was going to provide me with an amazing experience. Several of my new colleagues were standing on the curb when Jenn and I drove up, ready to assist our moving-in with hand trucks and smiles (the latter was more impressive with the heat). The welcoming nature only continued - our Director asked me about our wedding as soon as I met him, Jenn was always welcomed warmly at social events, and I began feeling at home much more quickly than I ever expected. It always stops me in my tracks when I remember that I have been here only three months, since it feels as though I know my co-workers so well already and they help me along as though I have always been part of the family. I miss my former co-workers dearly and will never forget where I have come from, but I am also thankful that I have made it to my current institution. :)

     My second life here is as a student, and if my undergraduate classmates ever helped me along, my graduate classmates will be about a hundred times more important if my syllabi are good indicators! Today starts the fourth week of classes. The fourth week of reading. The fourth week of completely new concepts, theories, and readings. The fourth week of reading. Did I mention reading? We help each other through these trials and tribulations that are the (digital) stacks of papers we must sift through every week. Going out after the last class of the week has been a wonderful weekly tradition thus far - I cannot stress the importance of de-stressing with friends while in graduate school. It is also important to do after training/opening with colleagues!

     Again, I would not trade the friends I still have across the country for anything. I have finally gotten to chatching-up with some and hope to be more consistent. I also know that they are happy for me and glad that I have found an incredibly supportive environment here as I continue my new adventures in Higher Education. =)

Quote Citation: Unknown. (n.d.). Thinkexist.com. Retrieved from: http://thinkexist.com/quotations/Friendship/

Photo By: Me - anotehr new friend I made on a recent hike! =)