My last week at UT

It is very strange to me that this is my last full week of employment at the University of Texas at Austin. My last day is technically next Tuesday, but since Monday is a University holiday, in my opinion one day does not a week make. So here I am … my last week.

I started graduate school in September of 2001. I am leaving UT in May of 2011. Almost 10 years as a UT employee. When I was filling out my time card today I saw on the bottom: “Months of State Service: 117.” Woah.

Now, I know lots of people have worked many places a lot longer than 10 years. But I mean, I’m only 33. Almost a third of my life has been spent being paid by the state of Texas and going to campus. It is just a weird feeling now that that time is coming to an end.

This also is the twilight of my academic and true research career. For somebody who spent the last 10 years talking about how they really wanted to go into academia, I feel sort of weird prepared to leave it. But in all honesty, it wasn’t really just my choice. Academia had the much larger say in the matter.

There is a large part of me that is very excited about leaving research and going to go build stuff. Focus on getting stuff done, getting projects finished, and getting products shipped. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t going to miss doing stuff, “just because.” Spending time on a project because nobody knows an answer, and that is the main reason. 

Change is at times uncomfortable, many people spend their entire lives fighting change at every possible point. But often change is good, and I honestly believe that this change will be good. There is a lot of change occurring. We are getting a house built, I am starting a new job, and I’m looking forward with an open mind.

This next 8 days will be be nostalgic, sad, exciting, and a relief. But I am an optimist, and June 1st I start the next part of my life… and I am looking forward to it!