2 years + 56,000 dollars = ?

January 30th, 2010 | by emontero |

After two years of blood, sweat, tears, and a scholarship worth US$56,000, here’s the end result:

ms degree and grades

(click for a larger view)

Sans the blood and the tears, it was quite an amazing ride. Traveling to Rochester, NY, spending 2 years at RIT and meeting all the awesome people I met along the way, is one of the most salient experiences of my short life. And to think I was morose and utterly worried because I didn’t know whether I was going to get a scholarship almost three years ago. It’s incredible what persistence and an optimistic mindset can do.

With the arrival of the certificate, this chapter of my life is officially over. It’s now time to move on and look for bigger, more difficult challenges. Up, up and away!

  1. 12 Responses to “2 years + 56,000 dollars = ?”

  2. By Mike on Jan 30, 2010 | Reply

    Congratulaions Elvis!!

  3. By emontero on Jan 30, 2010 | Reply

    Thanks, Mike! =)

  4. By Jorge Vargas on Jan 30, 2010 | Reply

    congrats master!

  5. By xmonk on Feb 3, 2010 | Reply

    w00t congratulations! Doctorate in the horizon?

  6. By emontero on Feb 3, 2010 | Reply

    @Jorge,

    Thanks, mae!

    @xmonk,

    Thanks, dude!

    I don’t think a PhD would be the right use of my time and energy right now. I’m not ruling the possibility of doing one altogether, but that’s something I’d pursue later on in life.

  7. By Raydelto on Feb 7, 2010 | Reply

    Muchísimas felicidades Elvis! Todo tu esfuerzo tuvo su fruto. Sigue así de dedicado y disciplinado!

  8. By yusef on Feb 14, 2010 | Reply

    Congrats!!! don’t you think it’s time to get a better job???

  9. By emontero on Feb 14, 2010 | Reply

    Thanks, Yusef! I concur. It’s about time I started justifying the money and time investment. I’m working on it. =)

  10. By Aldo Luciano on Mar 7, 2010 | Reply

    Congrats!!!

  11. By Jose Laureano on Apr 3, 2010 | Reply

    Hey Felicidades man. Way to rock!

    ps. Por fin un diploma que no esta centralizado!

  12. By Jeef on Apr 7, 2010 | Reply

    It is understandable that running a marathon would make you sweat. It is also reasonable that a tear might come out your eyes once in a while. But what I cannot grasp is how this ‘achievement’ took blood to be accomplished. Did you get yourself cut or get/give a blood transfusion?

    What if those pieces of paper get lost or burned in a fire; would the end result of those “2 years + 56,000 dollars” be gone for good?

    Yes, I know. You may think this is coming from a purist.

    News flash: I am a purist.

  13. By emontero on Apr 7, 2010 | Reply

    @Jeef,

    That’s the problem with you purists: you’re simply no fun! I did get a couple of bruises, but mainly during extracurricular activities. Paper cuts were a common denominator during the first year. Nothing major though. =)

    If those pieces of paper disappeared today, I can’t say I’d care much. The memories I have are worth much more.

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