Source: http://lifeofslug.blogspot.com/

The ScienceWriters 2010 conference is jammed full of future colleagues. And there is a healthy contingent of Slug alums, in addition to us newbies.

When people find out that I’m a slug, they have nothing but good things to say about the program (although I doubt they would start in on any negative thoughts they had with a current student). But still, it’s encouraging to hear how well thought of the program is.

And it’s also nice to see that the Slug alums that I’ve met are all employed.

It’s a little scary though, the thought of having to live up to all that have gone before. I don’t want to be the one student that screws it up. The one who is spoken about with a wince and a whispered “We don’t talk about that one…”

The Slug contingent has been referred to as the Slug Mafia, and we know what happens to screw ups in the mafia.

But, these fears are only a small part of what I feel. Mostly I’m just excited to be meeting people I’ve read and heard about for years.