An Old Friend's Wedding & an Unexpected Reunion
I lived in Erie, PA from the age of 3 to 12. After 6th grade my family moved across the state, and I stayed in touch with very few of my old friends. One of these friends, Kevin, got married last Friday, and my mother and I were invited. Very happy for the couple (I was friends with the bride for that one year of middle school), I was excited to attend the wedding but was expecting to know about 4 people my age and a few sets of parents. Visions of "I remember you when you were ...(insert something diminutive)..." don't usually whet my appetite, but I was still looking forward to the festivities and reunions with those few, old friends.
My expectations of reminiscing held true for the most part. My explaining what getting a PhD in Organizational Behavior entails and what I specifically research was pretty standard, too.
Except this one, excellent time. The reason for my post.
The program at the church informed us that Tom Zagenczyk would be reading two pieces. "There's a name I recognize from 6th grade, when he and I had classes together." About 2 hours into the reception, Tom and I reintroduce ourselves. Small talk ensues...
..."So what are you up to these days?" he asks.
(cue the script) "I've been working on my PhD in organizational behavior..."
"Nice. I got my PhD in OB, too."
Brakes screech to a bit of a halt. Unexpected! Exciting!
Turns out Tom graduated from UPittsburgh last year and is now a professor at Clemson. I tell him about my work in public-private partnerships and corporate-nonprofit relationships. He tells me about his work in social networks. I ask if he knows Melvin Smith, a professor in my department who came from UPittsburgh and has done a lot of work in social capital. Turns out Tom and Melvin shared an office several years back.
Very fun stuff.
At some point Tom asks, "What are the odds that two kids in the same 6th grade class would both go for PhDs in OB?" And perhaps because we have both taken the doctoral route, you might be able to imagine how we stood there silently contemplating those odds for just a few seconds before we laughingly agreed that they are very small. :)
I have been reflecting on why it was such a highlight to get to re-meet Tom last Friday. There are the obvious points-- that coincidences can be thrilling, that I enjoy meeting funny, smart people, and that I tend to have especially entertaining conversations with people who share my organizational behavior leanings. But I guess what sings to me most here is that I so very much want to feel connected to others, but getting my phd has separated me from my family on a number of levels, and doctoral studies are already notorious for being inherently isolating.
So happening upon a spirit kindred in academic/career interests and in terms of where we come from socially/geographically... well, here is a connection for which I am deeply grateful.
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