Later that evening, I found myself walking beside Carol into the newly opened Stanford Theatre. The place was glowing — warm lights, velvet curtains, a long queue of students waiting for tickets.

Carol insisted we come watch something light, saying it was a small reward for surviving the year’s exams.

“I’m thankful we’re done with all that reading madness,” she said, bumping her shoulder into mine playfully. “Now, you don’t have to worry about school while taking care of your ...