No Prerequisite

My (new) racquetball partner paid me a huge compliment today that helped to dispel some of the feelings of inferiority I’ve hinted at recently. He’s also starting his first year in the department, but he already has his MA. We’re in two courses together. Exactly what he said doesn’t matter. Nor does it matter that he beat me three times in a row, each time keeping me to three or fewer points… come on, it’s been literally four years since I last played…