I'm not a linguist. I'm an engineer. (Normally I'd say things like, "it's because their star is waning that i was counting on them to let me join. i was hoping to ride the coattails of their erstwhile prestige while its echoes linger. now those coattails will go to wealthier candidates who we can only hope are more deserving of the experience awaiting them there." or something to stay in character, but I'm actually really psyched up about all this.)