Christmas on 5th
During my MBA pursuit, I’ve spent a good amount of time seeking advice from those who’ve been in the business world, both spoken and written. A common theme that has been discussed is regret. Many people talk extensively about a varying array of events of importance that they ignored because of work duties.
In consistency with their advice, I decided to take the evening after my Thursday morning final to check out Baylor’s annual “Christmas on 5th” celebration. I went last year and had a great time at the concert as well as the happenings around campus, such as the petting zoo, student-designed Christmas tree section, and the giant Christmas tree in the Student Union Building. While they were good to see last year, they weren’t the main reason I went this year. I went to enjoy the time with my cohorts, many of whom I won’t see again for a long time after graduation.
Sentimentality is an odd thing to describe. Many will confuse this emotion with regret, which is only half true. There is certainly regret that a situation is coming to an end, but if scenarios don’t change, then stagnation begins to creep in, and we as people begin to struggle once growth leaves the equation. So I become sentimental and remorseful not because of the situation that is no longer sustainable, but for the group of amazing people with whom I will never again (together) share a meal, never again attend a social, or never again share a curriculum.
There will always be obligations in this lifetime. It is certainly important to keep the important ones, but many times we overcommit and miss the little things that truly matter. Therefore, in spite of the mounting pressures of my last finals, I know that I made the right choice in a night of celebration with friends.