That for which I am thankful

My wife: I could have chosen a business school in a larger city with better job opportunities for her. I could have chosen a business school that offered me a sizable chunk of scholarship money. I could have chosen a business school that did not have a reputation for being time intensive. But when I said I wanted to go to business school in a small town, pay an incredible amount of money to do so, and become a husband in absentia for 14 hours a day, she supported me. She keeps me grounded, motivated, healthy, and happy. And I love her.

My learning team: There are a lot of things to worry about during Darden orientation. My biggest concern was who I would be joining on a learning team. It is said that if, after a few months, you don’t know who the jerk on your learning team is, you are the jerk. By default, the jerk must be me, because I have a great learning team, and none of the rest of them are jerks. My learning team works well together, is humorous, is generous, is thoughtful, and makes me a better student. I’m thankful everyday that I was randomized (insert omniscient voice of the Office of Student Affairs: “It’s not random, we work very hard at grouping LTs!”) into such a great group.

Friends: During the four months preceding Darden, my wife and I traveled to Nepal, India, and much of Southeast Asia. Throughout Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, we were joined by very good friends from my undergrad. If, on the day I started as a freshman at Claremont McKenna College, I would have known that 11 years later I would be standing with the very same people watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat, I would have been quite surprised. But when you meet good people and find substantial common ground, you make friends for life. Darden provides the same opportunity, and it is exciting, as casual friendships begin to develop at business school, to wonder which ones will be sustained ten and twenty years from now?

Honesty: This has been a year of tremendous change, and many decisions were and are being made largely on the advice and feedback from strangers. People have been extremely honest and forthright, helping us along in those decision processes, and the generosity of time and the honesty in information provided has been fundamental to our success. I’m thankful for Darden SYs and alumni, the students and alumni of other business schools, and my friends and relatives who have provided feedback along in a thoughtful and straightforward manner. The truth is always the truth, so it is better to hear it sooner than later.

Edit: I am thankful for Section A. Better than all other Sections.