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Finals Are Done, Time To Network

Written By: Michael Keba on Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Wine 101 - Student Organizations

Ah - to be on break for the holidays is quite a relief! I fell off the face of the earth for the last couple weeks, but I feel well accomplished from my pilgrimage in the library. I finished finals last Friday and proudly continue my record of a slowly increasing GPA. I've completed my calculus requirement, and most likely will never have to take another math class. In fact, I'm done with all the prerequisite requirements to transfer into the Viticulture and Enology major. I have received conditional admittance to the program on the condition that I receive a C- or higher in all of my classes (my unofficial grades tell me I'm good to go). Well, I'm ready to come back full force on my column. Get ready!

At the beginning of this year I started casually attending weekly meetings for the student organization of the department of viticulture and enology, also known as DEVO (yes, like the band). This student run club sponsors frequent trips to vineyards and wineries all around California, as well as a yearly immersion trip abroad. It’s also a good networking community as many of the members already have substantial experience in the wine industry. Truth be told though, I haven’t been very active in this club. Just like much of the industry, most of the functions of DEVO require the participants to be of legal drinking age. DEVO was towards the bottom of my list of priorities until I received a desperate e-mail about two weeks ago. Help was needed for setting up the annual "repeal party," so I volunteered myself to put up Christmas lights.

I found myself at a crowded party of unfamiliar faces. I knew no one. Faced with the choice of hiding in the corner (being a wimp) or making the most out of it, I chose the latter. I put on my extrovert face and started introducing myself. I met the two co-presidents of DEVO, whom I helped with the last touches setting up. Professors started to show up whom I recognized from the department. Before long, I was chatting it up with some of the big wigs while the live band played. Mission accomplished.

The wine flowed freely all night, as per the celebration of the repeal of the twenty-first amendment requires. That is to all, except me, and I hope people remember me as the enthusiastic young kid who was there even though he couldn't drink. I think I did a fairly good job of meeting as many people as possible. Hopefully some professors will remember me when I stick my head in their office next quarter when I resume my job search. At the very least, I got my face out there. I'm hopeful good things will come because of it.

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