I may have been a tad melodramatic in my previous entry when I said I wasn't going to remember G. T. in a positive light. The grades window has closed, and nothing more has happened since the last tragedy. I can now say that my time at G. T. truly was awesome. I could describe the eighteen-odd months I spent there in great detail, but I've never really had the patience to analyze feelings so minutely; so suffice it to say that it's been great fun. Even in the roughest of times I've been able to come away learning something of value. Take this last tragedy, for instance. Once I'd got over the shock and dishonor of being associated with an academic infraction, and after I'd talked to Dr. Who and learnt that even one such as she was not immune from the malefactions of her peers (though she had ultimately saved herself from what could have been a sticky situation), I felt thankful to G. T. for teaching me a valuable lesson about life. I've learnt to be more careful about the company I keep and the things I do. I won't pretend that I'm not petty enough to resent T. B. for being so intransigent, even when the offenses (i.e., Swa's) were severe enough to warrant it, and I won't pretend that I'm not smallminded enough not to forgive Swa or feel bad that she has had to put off graduating for another semester. My own failings have been more human than academic, and there is dishonor enough in that to justify the ignominy that comes with violating the honor code. (I've read that first offenses, while they don't show up on your public record, are kept on file by the OIS for five years after you graduate, which might preclude any designs I may have of returning to do a PhD someday in the future. Thank you, Swa.) It's funny how, after all the people I met and made friends with, in the end only the core group - viz., Nicky, Nikki, and myself - remained.
2 comments :
The last sentence - always, always. It feels like other friends I make as we sail through life, remain fixed like statues on a river bank, in that time and space, and do not trail along with me.
And that's quite alright. It's been great fun and good support, but it feels good to withdraw from the excessive proximity this semester has warranted. Any more than this, and we'll be at "familiarity breeds contempt" again. It's quite wonderful to be friends as adults. :D
I've been so lucky to have been to college with you and Nikki, in turns. Needless to say, GT would not be the same without you. We've had endless fun in Atlanta and I going to miss the random fuckery we were always upto. I hope you two have great times in Amazing Inc. and obviously I'll be visiting sometime. :D
> "It feels like other friends I make as we sail through life, remain fixed like statues on a river bank, in that time and space, and do not trail along with me."
Love that line. It ought to be printed on a poster and framed for all to see. Or printed on a tee shirt.
Yeah, real life is weird. We can aim to live it like some of the better-written sitcoms. I remember something like that once came up in conversation with Sahiti, and she said there was more dignity in a drama. Which I suppose is true.
I kind of wish I were back on Mount Stupid again: i.e., me between FIITJEE and the first couple of years of college. There seemed to be a lot more going on back then in terms of "drama", though not necessarily the kind that lacked dignity (the subject of this entry).
I'm rambling, and I suppose it could be argued that I'm a wreck, but never together.
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