Texas A&M Hosts Annual Conference Exploring Frontiers in Nuclear Astrophysics

For Dixon and Lestone, a journey that began nearly a year ago with understandable reservations as they plunged headlong into the unknown of event planning ultimately gave way to a newfound sense of humble accomplishment and gratitude — a byproduct of their collective decision to embrace their opportunity to serve when it came along, disguised as extra work neither one needed.

“This conference kind of consumed my life for the past six months, which was exhausting but extremely fulfilling,” said Lestone, a nuclear physicist who was also simultaneously planning his June 20 wedding. “I had no preconceived notions, but I now have an appreciation for just how much work goes into conference planning. Being there and seeing all the work you put in come to fruition … it’s an indescribable feeling.”

Dixon, whose research focuses on stellar astrophysics, similarly summed it up as a rewarding experience that taught him many new skills, from organizational to interpersonal, along with a crash course in crisis management.

“That first day, I was so worried,” he recalled. “I didn’t get much sleep the night before. And then on day three, we made the decision to move to a hybrid format because of heavy storms across Texas that cancelled a lot of flights into College Station. It was a stressful situation, but once each day started and the first session ran smoothly, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.”

This article was originally posted on the College of Arts & Sciences website.