What a wonderful Thanksgiving break this has been!  While it is still difficult to provide for a wife and son on a grad student budget—in an economy that hasn’t provided an opportunity for my wife to find work—we took the opportunity to reflect on all of the huge blessings we have received in our lives up to this point, and it wasn’t hard to find them.  It’s hard to complain when you have health, a supportive (and cute!) family, a roof over your head, food on your table, and the opportunity to attend one of the best business schools in the world.  I’m grateful that although things may be a bit difficult right now (as they are for many people) I have at least been entrusted with the opportunity improve my skills through education.

The infamous Darden ‘Black November’ hadn’t really afforded me much free time to think about anything except school, recruiting, networking, etc. until this last week.  As I took advantage of winter rates (only $15!) at Birdwood golf course on Wednesday to enjoy what would have been great Spring weather, let alone winter weather, I began to reflect on how I have gotten to this point in my life.  It would be so easy to give myself all of the credit for my own hard work and so easy to look past the patience and work that everyone else has put in around me throughout my life to ensure that I’ve had access to opportunities for personal growth.  I’m not naïve enough to think that I’m here at Darden solely because of my accomplishments, especially during such a competitive admissions cycle that likely produced a large number of equally (if not, more) qualified individuals; someone saw who I was and decided to give me a chance.  I feel that since that someone (or multiple “someones”) believed in me as much as I believe in myself, and saw in me the potential that I know I have, choosing to come here to Darden brings with it a social responsibility to mentor others and strive to help them reach their potential.  As “Black November” gets blacker bringing multiple resume drops this coming week and final exams the next week (I guess December doesn’t really start until after exams?), I’ll take pride in the fact that my [increasingly] bright future is not the product of only my own efforts, but a culmination of the diverse influences of many people—past and present—whose lives have touched mine.  For all of you, I am thankful.

Warm regards,

Greg