Alasdair Ekpenyong
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This website is a work in progress. I'll update it as I have time.

Peace, love, cheers.

(image:
​"Self-Portrait as a Fountain" by Bruce Nauman)

August 27th, 2017

8/27/2017

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I took my first test for Georgetown yesterday, and although scores will not come out until Tuesday, I studied so hard that I know how well I did, and I am really proud of myself. I felt elated afterward. I know that I can work hard, and I know that I can be a good student, but I was really wondering if it was possible to do both of these things at the same, and to do it well. The answer is, it seems like, yes, I can, if I am willing to plan ahead, stick to a disciplined schedule, and work responsibly, throwing my heart into whatever I do, and giving it my best effort. Let's see how September turns out. I have one more quiz like this--which is supposed to be challenging, but not impossible, and then a final exam, which is supposed to be really difficult, although fair.

It's basically the one-year mark of how long I've been working at Wells Fargo, which is an awesome accomplishment. I think of everything that has happened in this whirlwind of a year. Interviewing for the job, going paleo and signing up for CrossFit, moving to a new, beautiful house on Main Street, deciding to go to grad school and to study for the GMAT, the rise and fall of my friendship with Landon, meeting an awesome therapist, deciding to convert to Judaism and getting progressively serious with the rabbi, an awesome friendship with Hunter, and then this summer, which has turned out to be one of my favorite summers ever. It has been an eventful year with ups and downs and many turns. New things come, old things go, and things change, but what reains is what has always been there: me, and the life I have ahead of me.

A lot of the really great-paying jobs in the finance industry ask you to have two to four years of experience. I'm more than likely going to play out at least the first two or three years of that at Wells Fargo. The earliest conceivable time I could see myself making a big career change is next fall. Georgetown plans a big networking trip to New York City, and I wonder if something interesting could come of that. I don't really mind staying in the position I am throughout grad school, but I really would like to walk out of graduation with a strong job plan ahead. I should also really try to have enough savings in-tow to sustain me for the six weeks I'll be in South Africa, and maybe for a month or two after as I transition to a new job and maybe a new city.

Here's the thing: Utah was a mistake, and is, overall, not the healthiest place in the world for me to be. I placed a lot of hope on the idea that Mormonism would work out, and it hasn't worked out at all. It's possible for me to rebuild and have a second chance, but it just requires a lot of careful thought and planning. I hope that this next year, at least, having put some time and distance between myself and Provo, I can be, overall, more happy and more relaxed, and I can put my thoughts on other things. It's hard to believe that one year ago I was still waking up with nightmares and flashbacks re: Mormonism, but I have grown and progressed and come so far, and I am so proud of myself. I do wonder what life would have been like if I had done a finance or accounting major in undergrad, chosen a religion that was a better fit for me than Mormonism, etc etc etc. These things can't be anything more than passing thoughts, though. I have a whole life ahead of me to live. 

If I could identify my dream job, it would be working or a bulge bracket bank or boutique bank somewhere in New York City. Although I also think working in the finance department for Skullcandy could be pretty cool. Let's see what I can do to get from here to there. I'm lucky to have great friends, great managers and mentors, and great tools in my toolbox from my therapist. I'm excited to see all the joys, all the adventures, and yes all the struggles that I will have in the next year of this chapter in my life.
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Welcome to Georgetown

8/6/2017

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Today was the last day of my Georgetown orientation weekend. I'm officially a graduate student! Orientation was a really positive experience. I have great classmates, great professors, and great career services counseling resources. I have a lot of options in front of me for where and what I want to be in life. I hope that I can behave and make choices in a way that will not be selling myself short. I don't think I was honestly "ready" for Parsons two summers ago, but I do feel ready for Georgetown. Let's go; let's do it; allons-y.

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