Some things you only get in College

OK, really short post here, but I absolutely love how today worked out. Even though the power was out, students all over campus got together and hung out - be it frisbee games, card games, or dorm worship services, everywhere on campus was a huge feeling of community. And that would never have happened in my little suburban neighborhood. Which makes me really sad, but also lets me realize the totally awesome opportunities as a 'young person'. =)

All things must end...

Today was my last day at my summer internship. I was working with 11 other interns, and yesterday was the first round of farewells. It's so difficult to say goodbye to them - how do you, how can you say goodbye forever to someone who has been a part of your life all day, everyday, for two months?

I remember the first day that I met them, the day we enjoyed a trip to the Cryptography museum and really got to know one another. I remember our first week, learning a new programming language and working through the exercises set by our team leader. I remember the first day we moved to our permanent office, the day that we first saw what we were to work with. I remember the first day of our certification training, the day we went to Starbucks together to study. I remember the day that three new (cleared!) interns joined our team. I remember the day that I first started working with Joe on Cucumber. I remember the day that Dustin brought Jessica a slim Jim as an apology gift. I remember the many Red Bull cans that Oliver drank.

I learned so much this summer. I learned about the workplace, about teamwork, about automated testing.

All things must end...

Catching Up

I was talking to my friend Alec last night and he mentioned that he was "catching up with the internet".

I really think that's the perfect phrase. When ever I sit down with a computer, I always feel like I'm behind. I have to check my multiple emails, scan my blog feed for new posts, check out the photos I've been tagged in on Facebook, cover my NYT headline feed, feed my virtual pets that I've had since I was in 5th grade(if I remember, which I most often don't), check my online Scrabble games, etc.

My cousin holds all this information in his pocket, because he has a ipod touch. Most people in this day and age pay to have smart phones constantly on the alert. However, even those people are not ever 'caught up'.

I downloaded the information from my Facebook account last night in an attempt to get copies of the photos I'd been tagged in (there are over 400). Although the photos didn't work the way I would have liked, I did get a very interesting print out of ALL the wall posts/status updates that have ever been on my Facebook. Four years worth. And I was struck by how much is out there.

It is often chilling to consider the information on the internet, and easy to vow that you will be more careful, etc, but I think that we all will continue to fall into the trap of trying to catch up. When life seems to occur on the internet, you want to be there too, and so we are all constantly "catching up".