I know that this email conversation belongs in the Bragging Rights column, but I can’t single out who’s bragging: the teacher, the student, or ATDP for having the privilege of working with such teachers and students.
This conversation begins on December 5th, when Dr. Christina Büchmann, ATDP’s 2010 and 2011 Advanced Reading and Writing instructor, learned from one of her former ATDP students that his fellow student had received wonderful news from Columbia University. It’s recounted here because, of course, we wish to publically congratulate Syed Mohsin on his outstanding achievement. For younger students and their parents, this conversation is a wonderful model of the supportive relationships, academic curiosity, dedication, and hard work required for academic success. So, read on, and smile as you do.
On Dec 5, 2011, at 9:31 AM, Christina Büchmann wrote:
I just saw Rajeev, who told me that you’ve already heard from Columbia–this is beyond glorious! The thought of your reading all those books which no one reads at other colleges–you’ve made my week!
Best,
Christina Büchmann
From: Syed Mohsin
Sent: Dec 6, 2011 12:10 PM
To: Christina Büchmann
Subject: Re: Congratulations!
Wow, I’m so glad Rajeev told you! Finding out I got into Columbia (on a full scholarship at that) left me speechless. I haven’t really slept since I got the news! And yes, I’m so excited for the Core; I’ll be reading so many great books. I really miss your class, and in fact I talked about how important your class was for me in improving my writing skills in my “Why Columbia” essay.Thanks for the kind words and I miss you!
Syed
On Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 10:55 PM,Christina Büchmann wrote:
This is even better than I’d imagined! No one will ever sleep again (Macbeth hath murdered sleep…)!
My friends who went to Columbia never stop talking about semi-obscure Greek tragedies–it’s clearly extremely useful later in life. And I did a similar (but inferior?) program at Yale and am constantly surprised at how often I drag in ideas from the political philosophy course, e.g. It’s going to be a very good thing. When I’m visiting NY and you’re at Columbia, I know which coffee shop I want to show you near there–just wait!Good lord, do you know how hard it is to get into Columbia??????? I think you deserve it, but the world isn’t always so just.
Ecstatically,
Christina Büchmann
From: Syed Mohsin
Sent: Dec 6, 2011 11:44 PM
To: Christina Büchmann
Subject: Re: Congratulations!Of course you may quote from that email, and even this email, if you find any useful material! Anything for ATDP. And it’s interesting that you quote Macbeth, because I believe that will be one of the first books I will read at Columbia, and also I’ve just finished studying Hamlet for my English class. What a great play! Anyways, indeed, I’m so excited. In fact, in my house I sometimes spontaneously scream “Columbia!” and someone in my family will scream “Columbia!” back to me from another part of the house. It’s become a fun game now.
Haha, obscure Greek tragedies–sounds absolutely amazing! But I am really so lucky and blessed to be able to go to Columbia, and hopefully it’ll be everything I’ve ever hoped for and more. Thanks for being so happy for me! It really means a lot, to feel your excitement through your gleefully worded email. I’ll be ready for that coffee shop!
All the best,
Syed
We all benefit from sharing each other’s joy, and we all learn a great deal from the experiences that contributed to those joyous outcomes. Congratulations again to Syed—and please exercise your own bragging rights and send ATDP your own story.