Find the Hidden Vehicle Name*

Written By: Dr. Rich Houston, Director of the Culverhouse School of Accountancy

We have the best pets ever. A dog who believes that an ice cube is the greatest treat ever and a cat who knows not about the existence of wet food.

Who Directs Your Movie? The cycling grand tour called the Vuelta a Espa?a ended earlier this week. The 21st and final stage was a 15-mile time trial in which each cyclist races individually against the clock. They start in reverse order of the standings, meaning that those with no chance to win the overall championship go first. When I was young and immature (i.e., Tuesday), I paid little attention to time trials, preferring the stages with direct competition. After a great deal of maturation (i.e., Wednesday), I decided to carefully watch each rider, and appreciate their journey. Some had never participated in a grand tour while others were completing their final stage prior to retiring. Some had persevered through crashes while others had fought off illness. Some had their championship hopes dashed by one bad day, others never had a shot at all, and a select few were competing to finish in the Top 3.

It was inspiring to see that, regardless of their backstory, all were still in the game, overcoming their own adversity and finishing what they started. I find it analogous to where we are in the semester. As you head into your first round of exams, and before you start comparing your ability and standing relative to others, consider the concept of sonder, which is “the feeling one has when they realize that everyone has a life as full and real as one’s own, one in which they are the central character and many others have secondary or insignificant roles.” Kind of like everyone being the star of their own movie.

We often look at others and assume that they haven’t experienced the kinds of ups and downs that we have, and that they have led uneventful and one-dimensional lives. Doing so is like watching a movie trailer and thinking that you know everything about the film. I suggest that you treat the next week or two as if it’s a time trial by giving it your best shot, knowing that whatever happens it’s by no means the end of the tour, and realizing that everyone has forged their own compelling path to get to this point. You’re all more alike than you think.

Hear from peers. Here are some thoughts from a couple of my students:

I am choosing not to fear the things that I can control. One thing that I can control is my attitude. I am not the best student in the world; that much is true. However, that does not mean that I should not try to be the best version of myself. Giving up before even trying is the best way to set yourself up for failure. My new goal is to not let my current emotions and mindset get in the way of the possibilities of a great future.

First attempts often are rough because mastery takes time and learning something new can initially feel confusing or foreign. Sticking with it, practicing, and trusting the process helps me maintain a positive mindset, reminds me not to be discouraged, and helps me focus on progress, not perfection or failure. I do my best to surround myself with supportive people, remain patient with myself, and realize that it’s OK when things don’t go perfectly at first.

Memory. I was going to state that I’ve been saying “when I was your age” too much until I realized that I forgot that I wrote about it four months ago. Huh.

WWITS (What Would I Tell Students). On Thursday, I felt a bit demoralized by an accounting-related development. I went home and moped around the house for a bit (I’m such a great catch). Then, I thought through what I would tell you guys if you were in the same mindset. Doing so made me decide not to be such a baby because I realized that I should:

• Not let a setback in one area of my life make me disregard the rest .
• Not assume that something is a setback until it fully plays out and I have a chance to assess the damage and determine the next step.
• Do what I can do and then let it go.
• Realize that I do not have to solve it alone because I’m surrounded by plenty of people who will pitch in.
• Know that we will prevail if we set our minds to it.

Veinity is not bathroom furniture. I don’t know quite what this means but I was a bit shaken when I walked up to the “circulation” desk in the library and the librarian asked if I was checking out. I heard myself say “not quite yet.”

*The hidden vehicle name is Moped.