Thirsty for Knowledge

So the semester is off to a smashing start! (Wow, that was a nice alliteration...) I am taking some very interesting classes right now to kick off my new major! I love social science and all the different facets of study involved in it.
I was walking through the hallway of one of the buildings I have a class in and could hear some of the lectures going on. In on classroom there was a lecture going on about measuring statistical importance. Next door was a discussion about the affect of attachment in infancy across the life course. Across the hall from that was a creative writing class; "Your story should have a clear climactic center..." Then I went to my class, Parent and Child Relationships, and learned about the challenges faced in the adoption triangle. I was a little early to my next class and accidentally walked in on a graduate level chemistry class critiquing each others experiment models.
As I was trying to sit as quietly and unobtrusively as possible in the back of the room, I couldn't help but be amazed at how much knowledge is passed around at that University...knowledge about everything from developmental psych, to particle physics, to effective verb usage. The vastness of it all is a little awe-inspiring. And I was thinking, "How did I get to be so lucky, that I can come here every day and be a part of that?" Sometimes I take for granted the fact that I have all this information right at my finger tips. I learned today that only about 30 percent of the population of the United States will graduate from college. As someone who loves to learn, I am so blessed with the opportunity to do that. The University of Utah (and I think all universities in our state) is so special. There is something so comforting in knowing that human knowledge is expanding and being given to the next generation. Places like the U facilitate that in a beautiful way.
I also get to learn from some pretty amazing instructors. This is going to sound stalker-ish and weird, but I googled a couple of my professors today, just out of idle curiosity. I was amazed at the amount of research they had published and the other appointments they had held. There are so pretty prestigious minds at work right in front of me every day. On the other hand, I also discovered that they are just people, with families, friends, insecurities, and grocery shopping to do (yes, one of the was on twitter...) .
I don't know why all of this struck me so hard today, but it did. And I don't know what makes me think that any of you care, but I'm sharing it any way. I am one lucky young lady, that's for sure!