That moment you've been waiting for

Or series of moments.

That's what the Dean of SIPA said when the speeches were over and the hundreds of graduates were next up to walk across the stage. This was last Thursday, more than a week ago already. I have been thinking of all kinds of things that I should write about graduating.

Walking across the stage was exciting. I guess it's not surprising- the rest of the whole graduation thing is pretty much taken in stride except that solitary stride-handshake-and-pose. The various speakers did say things that resonated with me and that I remember still: that we didn't attend this school because we want to get rich and famous. That we are trained problem solvers, policy analysts, and managers... if I look back at the reason I attended the program, I know that was the goal. 

I've been comparing this program to how I've heard childbirth is-- it's painful, but as soon as it's over you just think about what the result was, and the bad parts fade. It's worth it. But I don't think I'll have another baby.

After graduation, we went for a picnic in Central Park:

The last two weeks have been filled with fun and family and friends. And New York. I've been to museums and memorials:

9/11 memorial

WTC 1

South Street Seaport

The Cloisters

 and plays:

4000 Miles. (I also saw War Horse tonight by myself)

 and sat in the park...watched Netflix...and eaten oh so much food. 

What's next for me? I go to LA next Thursday when my lease here in NYC is up. The boyfriend has an internship there for the summer, so I'll be applying for jobs there...From New York to New Work. It's probably going to be a weird and challenging transition. I need to create more wildest dreams.

Climate change research at the Earth Institute...and me!

Jeff Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, giving an introduction to the Research Showcase:

If you want to skip to my section, it starts at 8:38.

Dream=Reality

Just thought I would let you know

I just finished my Master's program. I am done!!! I just submitted my last final, with 20 minutes to spare. And I can say honestly that I've never felt anything like it. I can't believe it's over. Somehow it always felt like this is what I was going to do forever. It became almost my whole life...and it's over. The feeling of accomplishment and excitement is bubbling up finally, and it's preventing me from sitting here any longer. I have spent so much of my time on a computer....
AGH!

Is this the last post that I can tag "esp mpa"? Is it possible that this part of my life is completed? I mean, it is. I guess I'm in shock.

And now I am going out for margaritas.

Today is: Studying all day, inside the 6th floor of SIPA.

The balance of payments model, the open economy, the relative change in expected exchange rates.

Thai food delivery.

This song:

And this spreadsheet, which I built from scratch and am very proud of- I've created a metric for identifying beneficial energy efficiency measures, while staying under budget: