Reliving grad school

I spent yesterday and today on the campus of UC Santa Cruz, the institution where I earned my PhD. I still know most of the faculty here, as well as several of the students.

One of the graduate students, Kate Rubin, is giving a talk a project we have been working on today. It is part of the requirements here that every student complete a research project by the end of their second year and give an hour talk on the project. Kate is giving her talk today.

When I came to Santa Cruz in 1997, my class was the first class required to do these research projects and give these talks. It took a few years for the requirements to evolve and settle into the "modern" version, but I remember the nervous feeling very well. Kate will do fine, though. And then the weekend is here!