Live and Learn

Worst

1 - Realizing, as I had just started the last problem on my first Intermediate exam, that there was a time limit and it was up.

2 - Seeing the Longhorns NOT go to the conference (and national) football championship despite our being the best football team in the nation.

3 - Witnessing the layoffs and struggles brought on by this crazy economy’s current situation.

4 - Interviewing for a management consulting position and finding my first case study interview to be “adversarial.”

5 - Seeing BYU, my undergrad alma mater, lose in football to TCU and to our arch rival, Utah (though I’m admittedly happy for Utah to be heading to a BCS bowl for the second time).

Best

1 - Receiving and accepting the job offer I wanted in my location of choice.

2 - Finishing the semester (we’re close enough) knowing a LOT more than I did coming into it.

3 - Spending time both inside and outside of class with a bunch of smart, interesting and fun MPA students.

4 - Receiving last-minute, free tickets to Las Vegas to celebrate my father-in-law’s 50th birthday with the entire family (you should have seen how excited my wife was!).

5 -Thanksgiving break (it was just so good!) and, soon, Christmas break! Can’t complain about five weeks!

Bonus Best - I was walking through the library one day early in the semester and I noticed a sign that outlined how to get a free locker. I jumped on the opportunity and have been able to cut down on my book lugging tremendously. I highly recommend it.