New Beginnings

So I talked to my sister the other day, and it turns out I’m going to be an uncle! They don’t know what the gender is, yet, but I’ve already suggested several names I think are suitable: Carlos Michael, Rafael Carlos, Isabel Carlos, etc. Let’s just say some she’s more receptive to than others. But it’s exciting. I don’t have kids of my own, yet, so I look forward to spoiling that little guy or girl as much as I possibly can.

I write this from my seat at Gate D18 of Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Virginia. My plane back to DFW takes off in about a half hour. It’s been a good, and much-needed, Spring Break.

I flew out here on Friday, March 7. I first stayed with relatives in Virginia, then headed to downtown DC to stay with a cousin and meet up with a few Baylor MBA classmates. I can honestly say it’s been awesome getting away from Waco for a bit, spending time with family, and hanging out in the nation’s capital.

I was able to get a head-start on assignments due this week and, most importantly, caught up on my share of sleep.

Wednesday night, we got to participate in the MBA Combine held at the Galloway Suites of Floyd Casey Stadium. The idea for the event plays off of the NFL Combine, where prospective draftees show off their stuff for pro scouts in anticipation of the NFL draft. Our Combine was a way for us to practice our interviewing skills with each other before next week’s Spring Job Fair, where many of us will go in search of internships and jobs.

A highlight of the event was an inspirational talk given by Walter Abercrombie, the all-time leading rusher in Baylor Bears football history, former first-round draft pick, former Pittsburgh Steeler and former Philadelphia Eagle. He talked to us about how eventual graduation from the MBA program and entry into the work force is similar to Abercrombie’s jump from college to the NFL in 1982, since we will be working in companies filled with competitive, talented people.

One of the coolest parts of his talk was listening to his jump from high school to Baylor, where he was awed by the two running backs ahead of him on the depth chart. Despite being told by coaches he would red-shirt his freshman year, Abercrombie said he worked hard to show he belonged and to be ready should his number come up. It did when the two NFL prospect backs ahead of him went down with injury. His preparation paid off on a fall day in 1978, when he ran more than 207 yards in a win against Texas A&M.

When he reached the NFL, he quickly noted the huge jump in talent, strength and speed among defenders like Lawrence Taylor. His answer? Be smarter. He watched game films that prepared him for spotting and exploiting tendencies among the defenders he faced.

I think it was a great message for us to hear. We are often caught up in our day-to-day classes and lives stuck in the Baylor bubble. But we are all going to graduate, probably faster than we expect, and thrust into work places that will challenge us more than we’ve ever been challenged before. Preparing harder, and smarter, is what will let us compete and succeed.