Finals week has officially begun!  It’s pretty hard to believe that the first year is almost over.  In some ways, it has felt like a lifetime and in others, it feels like it started yesterday.

To be honest, I know that finals are a considerably more stressful for students than partners.  But from a partner perspective, we feel the impact, too.  Before I had connected with other Olin partners, I spent “finals season” by myself, working extra hours to pass the time and making extra trips to the gym.  It worked well for my career and my overall health, I was not happy to be in a new city without any friends.

I felt like my experience was far inferior to the stresses that the Olin students were going through and I was being unreasonable with my own unhappiness. What I failed to recognize is the network of new friends who had similar experiences.  Flash forward to present day and after many conversations with Olin partners, we have had many “why didn’t you just call me?!” conversations.

The good news is that this semester is going to be different.  This week alone, we have planned a happy hour and to attend an event at the Art Museum.

Next year, the Olin Partner Association has a whole spreadsheet (this is Olin and we love spreadsheets) of plans for fall finals to allow first and second-year partners opportunities to get together in a more organized fashion.  We will have social options like a painting class and happy hours to supportive assistance like babysitting for young families who might need another set of hands while their partners are off studying.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know!  The Olin Partner Association wants to meet the needs of the partners of Olin and we want to represent your needs.

You can email us at:

OlinPartnersAssociation at gmail dot com

Happy Spring!!