Gloss & Grit - Polished thoughts. Real talk.

Midlife, Master’s Degree, and Meaning: Semester One Lessons As I wrap up finals week in my first semester of NYU Steinhard t’s Visual Arts Administration master’s program, I find myself emotional—in all the best ways. First, I want to acknowledge the people who made this semester not just possible, but transformative: Elizabeth Pergam, Mark Loiacono, Adam Thabo, Nora Rodrigues, and Scott Drevnig . And, of course, my ultimate partners on this journey: Sejin Park and Emily Long . I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. The old adage is true—the older you get, the faster the days speed by. Compared to my MBA years, this semester felt like a flash. But it was a flash packed with meaning. And the biggest surprise? The most valuable lessons weren’t just academic—they were human. My Biggest Lesson: it’s okay to be a geek. Or, more accurately, I’m finally giving myself permission to embrace it. One thing midlife grants you—if you let it—is the freedom to be exactly who you’ve always...