I remember my first day at State University of New York (SUNY), Albany quite vividly. Spring ‘95, Orientation day, and the very first thing that the Dean of School of Business did after entering the room was that he wrote “RIF” in big words on the whiteboard. He waited five seconds for us newcomers to digest the fact that we had no idea whatsoever what it meant. Then he spoke, “RIF” and waited another five seconds, making sure that he just remade his first mark. And then the words came out of his mouth “Reading is Fundamental”. Yep, that was the first semi-academic revelation I had in that school. His point was that "read the freakin’ student handouts and course offering etc. before even thinking about stepping into my office, having any questions regarding schedule, courses, and anything else that seems a mystery to you right now".
As naiveté as I was, I picked up Finance as major towards my prospective Business Administration Bachelor degree. That was the only major that I had any vague idea what it was about. That it had something to do with money or banking (And the banking industry at that time was at the peak of mergers and acquisitions; I don’t know, I try my best to bomb things in life by doing such idiotic things but somehow things don’t work out the way I plan. Apparently, God does not approve of my approach towards managing my own life!). Anyway, so Finance was decided upon. Now, acting blindly on the RIF principle, I was blessed again by the revelation that I could actually have two concentrations towards my major. That meant that I could choose another area of study along with Finance to complete my BS. I looked upon the list. Management was too broad and unmanageable, Marketing… I don’t think so… not with my heavy Punjabi accent. Accounting… nah, that would be too much money talk. And then there was this “Management Information Science” (MIS). That sounded good. I had no idea what it was. It just sounded good. 'Kind of new and impressive. I visualized myself calling back home in Pakistan and telling my friends and family “I am studying Management Information Sciences at school”. Hmmm, that has kind of right sound and punch to it. So that be it. I can successfully argue on the point that the only reason it sounds so good is due to God’s will so that I would one day choose it as my major and actually would have a successful career in it! Apparently God does not approve of my…
So I took Finance and MIS. I hated Finance from the very first day and that’s the end of that topic. 'Had to take two required Accounting classes but I spent whole time sitting in those classes contemplating on how beautiful eyes the middle aged professor has. I still somehow don’t believe that age matters when it comes to eyes. Marketing course turned out to be surprisingly pleasant. By that time I actually owned a TV so could easily relate to all the mindless ads. The one Math related course (I don’t remember the actual name of it but I think it rhymes with Cactus or something) was kind of weird. I was doing so badly in it that by mid-term, I went to see the instructor on how I don’t understand it so well and what can I do to improve. The instructor, who was actually a Ph.D. student at SUNY himself (yeah, it was one of those summer session), asked if he speaks too fast in the class for me. He said that so fast that he had to repeat himself three times.
The Management course was full of long-winded presentations. For every new presentation, I would pray that those two cute girls (I still don’t know their names) happen to sit on the opposite sides of the room so that my face would look veering back and forth across the room during my presentation. Guess how many times did that happen?
Business Statistics was boring academically but interesting and insightful in real life applications. However, I bombed the first exam in it and still don’t understand how did that happen? I just needed a little more time in Probability Distribution, you know.
And then there were these other courses like Economics and Psychology etc. but, well, let’s not go there.
So in the end, I ended up gradually liking and loving MIS. As always, God was kind enough to rig the test results in my favor so that not only I could pass, I could actually have above average GPA so that I would use the info on my resume to fill up the awkward blank space on it.
And guess who did not show up in the Graduation Ceremony just to avoid that little, stupid black hat and gown? I know that grad school (I don’t know how that is going to happen out of my lazy life right now) is not going to be the same… It’s not gonna be that fun.
I kind of miss that life now.
[This message has been edited by a_monad (edited March 20, 1999).]