Did you make it?

I've been in school a long time. Going straight from undergraduate to a masters and now working on a PhD! What was I thinking (wish I could e-mail past-self and ask...). So much research, so much time spent in front of a computer (a lot of it surfing silly, pointless websites), so many late hours in the lab. My advisor says I should finish in just over a year from now. Can't imagine that's possible! There is so much left to do. So my question, dear future-self, is: did you make it? Were you really able to put together something "original" and "groundbreaking"? Were you able to get good results, and publish lots of papers, and impress people in your field? And tell me what happened once you graduated... I certainly hope you got some good job offers. That much schooling hopefully made that brain of yours worth something. Shucks, after living poor for all these years, you better be making the big money now. Well, if you made it or if you didn't, I hope most of all that you are happy. Hope you remember to do things for yourself, things that make you enjoy life. Hope you have all your friends, 'cause those are most important. Hope you have your health, and dignity, and morals all still intact. And heck, hope you have a girlfriend too, one who appreciates you for all that you are. Good luck with your future. I'll be sure to work hard to shape the next few years into something that is good for you, and you can look back on and smile at all the memories. Oh, and if you get a chance, write back. (Just kidding, of course!) - ethan (4/11/2005)