Convocation Buzzkill

We had convocation the night before classes began. It featured various deans and professors telling us how wonderful our experience was going to be and the importance of our studies and zzzz.... sorry, I dozed off there for a bit.

The highlight, besides seeing everyone dressed up in suits(!), was the penultimate speaker of the night, the alumni speaker. In his speech, he told us that on the first day at some academic programs, they tell you, "Look to your left, look to your right, look at yourself-- one of the three of you will not be here at graduation." He rebutted that at business school, and at Wharton in particular, the saying had to be modified to, "Look to your left, look to your right, and also shake the hands of and get the business cards of anyone seated behind or in front of you, because these are going to be your best friends and your network for the rest of your lives." I thought that was a nice way to start things off.

However, the vice-dean couldn't let that slide exactly. Our final speaker for convocation, he stood up to deliver the closing remarks and said, "Just as an FYI, about eight people from every class flunk out."

Thanks!

Tonight, we wear suits. Three nights later, some of these women will be dancing in a room filled with foam.