originally posted february 19, 2000
nineteen!
That's right, as of this past Tuesday I'm officically nineteen years of age. Whoop dee doo. It seems that the only privileges I gain at this milestone are buying tobacco in Utah, Alaska and Alabama; and virtually anything that requires age verification (such as tobacco and gambling) in Canada. It would seem that the last major legal milestone I'll pass is 21. After that, the only one left is age 25, to rent a car in most states.
Come to think of it, most birthdays don't seem to have much significance after you finish the big birthday-party phase. After age 13, where Bar Mitzvah parties can cost more than a luxury automobile, things pretty much dry up. Sure, you go out with friends and exchange gifts, but the majesty of the moment is nowhere near as spectacular as when you invited all the kids in your third-grade class to a party where you rented out some large room with tables, chairs, pizza, and fun by the hour. Things become more... mundane.
That's what went through my mind as I went about my business during my first birthday away from home. I couldn't celebrate -- that didn't agree with my incredibly demanding schedule this semester at CMU. I had to put four hours of effort, which still didn't amount to anything much, into my discrete math homework, disrupting my other classes' homework in the process. As I returned to my dorm after disgustedly dropping off my abysmal homework, I was convinced that this was my second-worst birthday on record. (Not even discrete math can compete with the news that your grandmother died the evening before your birthday.) However, shortly after I plopped down into my chair and contemplated starting my other homework, there was a knock and some excited noise outside my room. My friend Meg, as well as a few other friends from my floor, surprised me with a cake and a rendition of "Happy Birthday!" That just made my day. I don't think any birthday I've had in recent years holds up to an experience like that.
As for my schedule, it's as demanding as ever. In addition to discrete math, I also have a programming course, a calculus course that's somewhat hard, a simple physics course, and Japanese, which hasn't been too bad. To fill in any gaps between classes, I'm now working for CMU's Office of Admission. It's certainly an interesting job, where I've heard and seen things about the admissions process I never would have imagined, and which unfortunately I legally can't share. Needless to say, it's been an interesting way to see the admissions process "in action," and to see how right my guidance counselor was about what counts and what doesn't. (Hint: Don't expect extracurricular activities to do anything for you.) I'd be lying if I told you it was my dream job -- it's largely filing at this level -- but I get to work with some very nice people who speak impeccable Pittsburghese and are a lot of fun to be with.
I updated my resume to reflect my new position as well as making it more similar to my printed copy. Expect a few new pictures and a poll soon, homework permitting. :)
Back to February 2000, or to the year 2000.
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