[csail-related] GSB Tonight: Positive Qualities

[jamoozy at csail.mit.edu (Andrew "Jamoozy" Correa)]

Allow me to brag for a moment.

Of all of the awesome traits I have to bring to the table [1], I think 
the one I value above all others, is my ability to learn about myself. 
As a graduate student at CSAIL, you are strongly encouraged to learn 
about and advance your field of research.  I think, of all the learning 
I do [2], I derive the greatest benefits out of the lessons I learn 
about myself [3].

Okay, so I learn about myself, but what have I learned?  One lesson came 
to me the other day while folding laundry [4].  I was sick at the time, 
and felt pretty behind on this whole "Ph.D. thing", especially since I 
couldn't think clearly enough to work.  I was thinking to myself, "Now, 
self, why do you waste so much time doing things for the CSC [5]?  Why 
are you running the gown rental program?  Why are you running the Bunny? 
  Why are you always helping out with the CSAIL Olympics [6]?  Why waste 
time with GSB?"  And then, I guess I asked the right question, because 
the next thing I thought was, "What has it gotten you?"

The answer came to me immediately.  "It got me a wife ... or will have."

I first met Ashley [7] when I was doing my usual altruistic thing at 
UCI, where we did our undergrads.  The way enrollment worked in the 
Dance department [8], was that once a year (about the time we have 
visiting students come to MIT), an audition is held.  All applicants are 
asked to show their best in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance.  The year I 
did the audition, there was a volunteer responsible for getting us all 
from the warm-up room to the audition room.  We were taught a little 
routine in the warm-up room, and we performed it for the professors [9] 
in the dance room.  I remembered the volunteer being so bad my year, 
that I vowed I'd do it next year and make it better for all those that 
came after me.  I was true to my word and volunteered.  Ashley was in 
the first class I did this for.  Needless to say, I made a good 
impression [10].  She did too!  She was accepted to the school, and we 
ended up hanging out quite often.  By March of her first year, we were 
good friends and had started dating.  Now it's been 7 1/2 years since we 
first saw each other, and we're engaged.

I could go on, but this email is already getting much too long.  Why not 
come to GSB, enjoy a frothy beverage with, and let me learn about you a 
little, at this week's:

        +-                                                  -+
           girl scout benefit -+-  5:30 pm  -+- 32-G9 lounge
        +-                                                  -+

            For those coming from elsewhere: Building 32 is
             <http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?selection=32>
        Once you are in 32, just take the G-elevator to the 9th
    floor and we will be in the lounge that you will be looking at
                  <http://projects.csail.mit.edu/gsb>

[1] or those that I have to bring to my friends, my family, my group, 
CSAIL, MIT, knowledge, research, academia, life, the universe, and 
everything!
[2] And let me be clear, of *all* of the learning I do, here, there or 
anywhere.
[3] Granted, this is probably because I'm not very skilled in research, 
and I haven't created any software of note.  I'm no RMS.
[4] Why laundry?  Why not?  Some people learn things about themselves in 
the shower.  I'm too busy singing in there to do much learning.
[5] For you new students, that's 
http://projects.csail.mit.edu/student-committee/  It's a valuable 
resource for CSAIL graduate students!
[6] Another one for you new students: 
http://projects.csail.mit.edu/olympics/ Check out the movies link at the 
bottom!
[7] Better put, "she met me".
[8] I was a ballet major, for those of you who didn't know.
[9] Dance has professors!  Who would have thought?
[10] I still enjoy hearing stories about what a good impression I made 
on her then.  This, in stark contrast to my impression of my "cattle 
herder".