With the semester in full-swing the energy on campus is contagious. This one of the things I enjoy the most about being on campus. The students walking around, playing games, studying, doing projects, sleeping, etc. gives the campus a lively atmosphere. This is coupled with generally great fall weather where I am. Eventually, the new semester glow will be gone, and I’ll be pining for the moments campus is empty. But I know when the campus is empty I’ll be pining for the students to come back and inject some much-needed energy into campus. The change in semesters keeps the environment around here fresh.
In industry, it was always the same environment, same types of deadlines, different project but same type of general procedures. Even with sometimes the same project to work on over time just having the influx and outflux of personnel and change of scenery is so fucking welcomed. I even notice my students have more vigor in them. The ones that don’t get out much (more senior) have the energy because they’re racing to the defense-finish-line, the younger ones are spry because it’s a new environment, and the mid-stage ones are mostly slacking off (the recruiting class wasn’t hot a couple years ago).
On top of all of this my SO found a great job close to campus so we’ve been meeting up when our schedules permit since they’re out relatively early so I’ll take a late lunch. We’re definitely in a spot where we have more free time than we used to and we’ve been spending it very well. While being around younger people keeps you young there’s something about all this stuff changing that keeps it fresh and keeps the campus (and me) alive.
academic infiltration 