Opening Convocation

Today was our opening convocation. I love the ceremony to start the year--I'm a big fan of organizational rituals overall, and this one communicates several key values that are important to the university. This year was, perhaps a slight letdown. I was under the impression that the songs sung by the concert choir were chosen based on tradition, and this year's selection deviated from what I remember (and liked) from the previous three. Also, the university did not host the typically outstanding lunch for visitors, faculty, and staff that they have in the past--probably understandable in light of budget cuts, of course. Perhaps I had just built it up in my mind from last year.

I was talking to colleagues in other departments that began their time here the same year that I did. We talked about how the fourth year is really different from previous years. It's not just that we're not "new" anymore--that's been over for a while now. It's more than we've made it past the first milestone of any importance. It's a neat feeling. We fit in now. A very cool place to be.