An Unexpected Love Letter: Town Square and Me
They say that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone — and whomever “they” are, couldn’t be more right. It’s been almost 10 weeks since I’ve seen you, and with every day that passes, I miss you even more. Our ending was so abrupt…I didn’t even see it coming. But I should have. The signs were there. As others started moving, I should have known our end was near. I should have learned from their mistakes and savored those last few moments. And now, after almost 2 years of memories, I’m having a hard time without you. I miss you. I’m left feeling tender for our memories, protective of our distance, and impacted by the lack of closure.
But during our time apart, I can’t help but smile reflecting on our memories. That time you first met my mom — I’d never seen her so proud! All those early mornings you’d joined me as the sun rose and I’d walk into Bass, paying for the prior day’s procrastination. And of course…the first time we shared a drink. My team had just won Week Zero Trivia Night, and the MBA2s had dawned you in your finest: Domino’s Pizza and Bud Light kegs. That was the first time I really took you in. I finally heard what you’d been saying that whole week: Change Lives, Change Organizations, Change the World. From that day forward, I never wanted to disappoint you.
Looking back on the years we shared together, I thought it would be the acronyms I’d miss the most: BPL, FOAM, AvJ, or even some BBLs. But it’s not. It’s you. You and our unplanned moments. Those moments I could have never predicted, with those I would have never known had it not been for you.
You really had a special talent; you always brought people together. You were always there through my toughest moments — particularly that Base Accounting Final. I still remember walking out of M103, feeling completely destroyed. But there you were. Ready as always, surrounded by your townspeople. Within minutes, you’d made us forget the past 3 hours, filling our conversations with talk of our breaks and flights just hours away. You empowered and supported every dream. Provided tables to rally GSB Gives Back Donations or to answer questions on why WIM isn’t just for women. You encouraged Squad 53 to always meet before Strategy; do you remember how nervous I was about Sorensen’s cold calls?!
To be honest, you became what I looked forward to the most. Even as we planned a trip around the world for Spring Break — my last Spring Break ever — I couldn’t wait to come back to you on Thursday, April 9th. When I’d be wrapped in your loving embrace, feel the sun on my skin, and once again report for “Lifeguard Duty”. My schedule for our last few months only called for Tuesday and Thursday rendezvous…but I knew I’d find excuses to visit on the other days too.
I’m sad to have regrets about our time together, like when I avoided you — particularly when it rained. Days when I hid in Coupa rather than confronting the uncomfortable and taking a chance. Seizing the opportunity to finally understand if, and why, others would follow me. And not just dance in the rain, but really let it all out ala GSBooties at Battle of the Bands. But I didn’t. And I have no one but myself to blame.
The truth is, you are what matters most to me. Why? Because you stand for everything I want and cherish in life: Friendship. Support. Spontaneity. And I’m sorry it took a pandemic for me to realize this. To realize that you represent the single reason I chose the GSB. You were the pivotal character in the road to who I am today.
Wow. What I wouldn’t do for one more day with you. To be surrounded by all our mutual friends and have things go back to just the way they were. It’s not that I’m worried I won’t see you again. I’m not. I’m sure our paths will cross, and we’ll see the usual suspects. But I’m worried I won’t see those whom you knew quite well, and whom I was just starting to get to know. Those with whom I had only exchanged a few words, but still pepper my memories. Those who made me feel so lucky for even those limited interactions. Honestly, I took those moments a bit for granted; I expected to have a few more…but I was wrong. And looking back, it’s the small moments, the unexpected chats with those around you as I ran from P106 to Arbuckle to M112 that really permeate my memories. Or skipping yet another career BBL to grab lunch with your visiting friends. Moments I’ll never get back or have again. That’s what I miss the most.
I’ve never been one to say goodbye — goodbye means forever. And I keep hoping that things will never change…that things will always be the same, but who am I kidding. Things will change. But maybe they also won’t. While the distance may physically pull us apart, I think your memories will keep us all together. Because of you, we will always have each other.
I can’t wait for the new class to meet you. I hope they appreciate everything you have to offer…never taking you for granted. My mom hopes I can find another one just like you — but I don’t think I will. You are one in a million and none other will ever be able to replace you. I hope you don’t ever forget that…and don’t ever forget me.
So until we meet again, I’ll see you later, Town Square. You’ll never know how much you meant to me.
