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Finally my final thoughts...

Ashish Goyal (WG'08) Third Eye

Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Perspectives
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So what do I think I should write for the last edition of the Wharton Journal for the academic year...? I could write about all the fun things that have gone on in the last year...or I could crib about things that went wrong...or I could give a message...(ya right)...or just blabber on as I always do...

This time since it is not only the last edition of the year, but the last one that I will write in as a student (yes I think I will pass and graduate this year) and the last edition that the class of 2008 will read as students... I am going to recall one of the most memorable speeches I heard at Wharton. Having been involved with the Wharton Leadership Lecture series, I have been very fortunate to hear a lot of great people talking about different things, but what has stuck in my mind is something we all (class of 2008) heard on the first day of school.

I am referring to Professor Nakahara's convocation speech that he delivered to us that day of August 2006. I clearly remember sitting in the audience and listening to Dean Harker talking about some issues that B Schools faced and then someone coming and telling us - Never Eat Alone... But what was refreshing and also inspiring was the thing Professor Nakahara said.

He very aptly laid out in front of us the choices we could make in the 2 years we all spend at Wharton. He spoke about 2 lists that we all could fall into and we all will put our friends in. One on the left that would be the social list wherein you would put people who you will call to go out and party with. While the one on the right would be the reputation list, the list in which you would include people who you respect and trust. His clear message was that it is very easy to get on the social list and in fact a lot of people are pulled into becoming a part of that list. While what we all need to aspire for is to become a part of the right list.

It all can sound different when you are reading it here, but listening to him that day- it made sendse, rather a lot of sense. And now when we all are finishing school, I think it makes more sense. In 2 years we all have made friends and best friends but some of them have gone on to earn respect enough to be included on the right list… and these are special people, special in many ways.
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