Received good news and now I'm celebrating

[encephalization]

Earlier this week I was offered a job as I finish up my 11th (!) year of higher education. Its been a lot of work and over the past few months I've become increasingly stressed about what was going to happen after I was done. I've spent these past ten years away from my native Sweden and as my visa was set to expire soon, I also worried about the prospect of leaving the life I've built here. All of that stress is now behind me.

Since joining the FoH forums, this has been a place where I've come to destress and I credit you all for me keeping some (minor) sanity over the past two years. I've had the fortune to share cigars with several members in person (and I'm looking forward to a Toronto meet up this upcoming week!), been on the receiving end of many generous trades, and laughed plenty at some of the more humorous contributors. So, I wanted to share my good news with everyone here. I'm certain I'll keep enjoying FoH just as much in the next few years (even more most likely since the new job also comes with a significant raise). If there are any smokers near Columbus OH, I'd love to sit down for a cigar or two once I've relocated.

Anyhow, three days of celebration have looked like this (BIG shout out to  @Trevor2118  for the amazing RA Belicoso, it has been a white whale for me and it really did deliver):

[Islandboy]

Congratulations! There’s nothing quite like achieving a major goal along this journey called life.

[encephalization]

20 minutes ago, Islandboy said:

Congratulations! There’s nothing quite like achieving a major goal along this journey called life.

Thanks! And it doesn't hurt that my daily RG/PL now can turn into a RASS. ?

[prodigy]

11 years of higher education? Did you get lost? Or do you now have 13 letters in front of your name lol. Congrats!

 

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[ponfed]

Kudos my man!

Enjoy it, savor it, own it.

The whole thing I mean not just the cigar.

[LLC]

Congratulations, always good to have something to celebrate. Too bad I’m good to miss you in Toronto, I heading out on a trip that morning. 

[avaldes]

Congrats! What field are you in?

I look back fondly on my 5 years of undergrad and 3 years of grad school. I learned a lot that I apply every day at work. It was 20 years ago but those were some good times! I also remember feeling like I wasn't sure what to do when I finished! 

[Guest Nekhyludov]

Congrats Max! That's awesome. Lots of BOTLS here around OH. I'm envious that you'll get to herf with them 

[encephalization]

7 hours ago, prodigy said:

11 years of higher education? Did you get lost? Or do you now have 13 letters in front of your name lol. Congrats!

A combination of the two. ?

5 hours ago, avaldes said:

Congrats! What field are you in?

I look back fondly on my 5 years of undergrad and 3 years of grad school. I learned a lot that I apply every day at work. It was 20 years ago but those were some good times! I also remember feeling like I wasn't sure what to do when I finished! 

Thanks! I'm currently in geo/atmospheric scienes but the postdoc is in a civil engineering department. So... I'll be nervous that I won't have an idea of what's going on, but on the flip side they won't know all that much about what I'm doing either. Perfect eh?

[prodigy]

Thanks! I'm currently in geo/atmospheric scienes but the postdoc is in a civil engineering department. So... I'll be nervous that I won't have an idea of what's going on, but on the flip side they won't know all that much about what I'm doing either. Perfect eh?

Please dont take my next statements the wrong way, as they are not intended to be rude towards you in any way.

When I was in college my wife was working in a research lab at Virginia tech (shes older than me and already had a degree at that point). One of the people in her group of friends was also in higher ed for an absurd amount of time. Double PhD, graduate school, etc etc. All said and done she had 13 letters in front of her name. She was hands down the "dumbest" person I've ever met. I'm pretty sure there are dogs and cats that have more social skills than she does. My point here is, schooling will only get you so far. Personality, work ethic, and common sense will get you farther in life than any piece of paper will.

Again, I applaud you on getting through it all. When I finished undergrad, not long ago, it was the most memorable moment in my life, second only to finishing marine corps basic training on Paris Island. I would live to have a higher education degree as well, but I can not fathom the politics and other BS involved in getting there.

I'm sure that you will find the path that makes you happy and potentially utilize 10% of what you've learned in school haha! Good luck starting the next chapter!!

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[Raskol]

Finishing higher education & getting a better offer! Two Great News!! Congratulations!

 

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[canadianbeaver]

Congratulations!

[inter4alia]

Congratulations! A lot of time, effort, and energy obviously went into this accomplishment. Be very proud and enjoy it. 

[Squarehead]

Congrats and hopefully I'll see you in Toronto this thursday

[SigmundChurchill]

As someone who went through 16 years (if you count residency) of higher education, I can relate.  I still fondly remember that light at the end of the tunnel when I landed my first real job.  There is no better feeling.  Congratulations!

[encephalization]

Thanks everyone!

@prodigy, I hear you. I've met a lot of those type of people. On the other hand, that type of personality may be most comfortable in academics and (in my experience) folk like that have contributed greatly to science, and especially to the STEM fields. People with too much education are a minute problem compared to people with too little.

[BellevilleMXZ]

Congrats! Looking forward to thursday

[Ericbrobes]

Congrats! Always nice reading stories like this!!

[RupertPupkin]

Congratulations! Hard work pays off~ Life is goood ?