Seriously what is the LGO?

Before I start this off I'd like to make it very clear that after three weeks into the summer courses I still don't have the answer.  Sure it's a dual degree program where students get an MBA and a Masters in an Engineering of their choice, it's a program that focuses on manufacturing, it's curriculum intense, it has an internship, a thesis, and all that fun stuff...


But how much do you REALLY get from all that?  If you're anything like me, it's the people and the experience that really define something.  Who are your classmates, what kind of course load is required (and does that make you want to jump into the Charles), what is the lifestyle of an MIT student in Cambridge, etc.


As I said I can't answer all of that, and probably won't be able to for a while.  But I do want to start with what I've learned the most about.  My fellow LGO 14's.  Within our class of 48 we have: military veterans of several countries, entrepreneurs, a PhD, a JD (not sure why these people need more degrees but hey more power to ya), fathers, mothers (good luck to them...), ultra marathon runners, sailors (of varying skill I'm sure...), surfers, gymnasts, football players, athletes of all kinds really, a playa (see picture),  one girl has had a TV fall on her and another was struck by lightning (while those last two aren't exactly something anyone strives for it's still pretty crazy).  And that's a very small sample of accomplishments that these people have to offer.

But what really has surprised me the most is how much I've realized I can learn from this new group I'm apart of.  First and foremost this wasn't the collection of nerds and Type A's I thought it would be (don't get me wrong we're still mostly nerds and Type A's), but that doesn't stop us from working hard and playing harder.  It's been a while since I've belted out probability, done system optimization, and then went straight to crush beers at the Muddy Charles.

I could go on all night about this incredible group of people, but the real point I'd like to make is that in the short time I've known these people I've realized that there's so much I DON'T KNOW.  But I've also realized that the next two years figuring all that stuff out is going to be a blast.