I just felt so old compared to the other students even though it was only a couple years difference. I had partied enough. I just wanted to get it done and over. All my friends had graduated, moved on, and were doing cool things making money, even though in retrospect they had grunt entry-level jobs.

I didn't make a new peer set other than the immediate group work/projects that comes with upper level courses. And that was just enough to get work done. I had no interest in making social circles since I just wanted to get done. My professors kind of sensed that. I wasn't the best student, but most of my profs presented me with opportunities that I never got the first time around. It was different. Opportunities to work in labs, travel research projects, tips on books I might enjoy, willingness to get me overrides into other profs already full classes, willingness to give me extensions if I had a crazy work schedule.

When I was 18-20, I was just another kid on the treadmill. But being 24 finishing that B.S., I was given this leniency and professional courtesy that would have been nice at 18.