Bradley J. Lautenbach

it’s the people, stupid

I was watching one of my favorite movies, “Stand By Me” while working on cover letters and resumes tonight. The movie ends with this quote:

I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anybody?

I used to think that was a pretty interesting quote. I partially agreed with it. I suppose it captures something about the truth in friendship that occurs at such an age. Thinking about it tonight, though, I realized I had an answer to the question asked. Yes, yes, I do.

I can go on about this more later, and I will, but I really do feel very fortunate to have come to school this year and to be in the section I’m in. I’ve made incredible friends in a short amount of time, and there are friendships that I’ve no doubt will last a lifetime. I’m not sure if it’s the connection around the shared experience, the genuine commonality around intellect and drive, or just luck – but there is a bond among people here that is truly great.

I gave a toast at a dinner party the a couple Saturdays ago. I had always said I perceived half the value in the mba program to be in the education and half the value to be in the people you meet (the network). I said at dinner that I’m starting to believe it may be weighted more heavily in favor of the people, after all.

This should surprise anyone who perceives HBS as having a stigma of arrogance or obnoxiousness. It did me. That stigma simply hasn’t presented itself (at least not in the level I thought it would – because surely you can’t rid the world of jerks entirely). But it has confounded me how genuinely good the majority of people are at school.

Anyway – long way of saying that I do feel like I’ve had friends as good since I was 12. I have them right now.

Related posts:

  1. autumn, trash, and turkeys in cambridge
  2. the expanding mind: school, one week on
  3. Things people say

December 26, 2008 at 10:10 pm | Filed Under bschool, life | View Comments 
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View Comments to “it’s the people, stupid”

  1. anon on December 26th, 2008

    I enjoy reading your blog. I wish I could write that well.

  2. Bradley Lautenbach on December 27th, 2008

    thanks for saying so – i appreciate it.

  3. Brett on January 1st, 2009

    Great movie that after seeing you watch it went out and bought for 8 bucks at Best Buy. Glad you enjoy it! I'm always more taken back by this quote from that movie
    “It happens sometimes. Friends come in and out of our lives like busboys in a restaurant.”

    Scary and true. Can't wait for you to write about your trip! Have a good one.

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