Tis the Season

It's been rather a turbulent last 24 hours. But all bad things must come to an end, so I'm going to take a moment to write about things that make me happy and for which I am grateful.

-My friends: even though most of you are in different time zones, we manage to bridge the distance with phone calls and IMs. Any time I need to talk, to share exciting news or lament a loss, I can count on a captive audience. Moreover, I take away something new from each of you, be it quantum mechanics, early education policy, or Broadway trivia, or even just how to live life. I am proud to know such an eclectic, talented bunch of people.

-My family: I don't think anyone but Chester can ever fully appreciate how insane our parents are, but that's who raised me, for better or worse. :) I credit my hyper-efficiency and resourcefulness to being the child of immigrant parents, and even though they sometimes put crazy demands on me, I can always count on them to support me, unconditionally. This is perhaps the most striking distinction I've seen with other people's relationships with their parents. Plus, my mom can be wicked funny.

-My job: after speaking with so many other recent graduates who are dissatisfied with their jobs, I am all the more grateful that I stumbled upon mine after a chance conversation with Dean L. Sure, I could be making lots more as a consultant or in finance, but the extra money wouldn't make up for the flexibility and autonomy I have at the Fed. More importantly, I'm in an intellectually stimulating environment, with the opportunity to hone research skills, take classes, and attend seminars on everything from heavy-duty econometrics to the effects of fasting during Ramadan on fetal cognitive development. It's like Cornell, without the stress of grades.

-My time in Ithaca: when people ask me whether I liked Cornell, I reply that I not only loved it, I loved the town of Ithaca. It's funny to think that 4 years ago Ithaca was barely on my map, especially with its ominous winters and rural location. But Ithaca has a way of charming its way into your heart, and although I love being in a city, I'd happily trade it in for Ithaca's waterfalls, trails and co-op groceries. And let's be serious, 4 years ago, I would not have been interested in hiking, my nose would have turned up at the idea of seitan and tempeh, and there's no way I would have considered biking to work. Ithaca has a way of changing you.

-My self: this one is harder than it looks because I tend to be pretty hard on myself. (Maybe it's that Asian instinct for self-improvement.) I've come to realize that I don't need to apologize for my quirks and oddities though, even if they sometimes hold me back from success. So, I'm going to take a quick narcissistic moment to revel in my own accomplishments. I'm smart enough, good enough, and gosh darn it, people like me!

Here's to a happy, healthy 2008.