I never anticipated that I would be a graduate student. College, yes--I always intended and wanted to go to college. But graduate school? I mean, I didn't even really know what that was until I was at the end of my sophomore year of college...when I realized that in order to actually pursue a career in my desired field, I would
have to go on to this "graduate school" thing, wherever, whatever, and whenever that was. At first, I wasn't too excited, and understandably so. Who wants to pay an incomprehensible, intangible, unfathomable amount of money for more school, for harder school? But then I realized my other option was the "real world." So that made the decision for me. I'm good at school. I'll be okay.
And I am! This blog will serve as a chronicle of my experiences and musings. For this first post, I will share some things that I've learned thus far:
1. It is possible to be busier than in undergrad. I didn't believe it when others told me. But it has certainly happened.
2. There is something quite satisfying about going to bed before even the elderly go to bed. 9 PM rolls around, I put in my hair curlers, clap out my lights, and sleep like a rock.
3. Even though undergrads are essentially the same age as I am, especially the seniors, they have come to look so young so quickly. Like little newborn babes.
4. I don't know campus...maybe by the time I graduate, I'll manage to emerge from the building that has become my home and attempt to find the student union. But no guarantees.
5. My number of friends is directly correlated with the number of other students in my cohort. (9, in case you were wondering).
6. I constantly forget what day of the week it is. In fact, I think the question most often asked is, "What day is it?"
7. Grades don't matter. Well, you have to pass (getting above an 80 or 85, depending on the class). But stressing over grades no longer consumes my life, and that is a wonderful feeling.
8. There is a different mentality in graduate school. Working together has replaced the competitive nature prevalent in high school and college. The next four years (and our careers) are a group project, and I like that.
9. I love kids. I've always enjoyed babysitting and playing with kids, but I really know I love working with them. They're cute, sweet, caring, honest, genuine, curious...great models for how we, even as adults, should act. They're also sassy, which is hilarious.
10. It takes a lot of effort to keep in touch with friends. Especially when they're in a different time zone, and I'm constantly swamped with class, studying, clinic, work, and the other necessary parts of being an adult, like grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning...the list never ends.
11. I'm on a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong in a doctoral program, that it was a mistake that I got admitted, and that I'm going to be "found out." But then sometimes I also feel like getting a doctorate really isn't all that bad, and that it's totally doable. And then there's every emotion in between!!
12. Y'all is an extremely useful pronoun, and I am not ashamed that it is now incorporated into my vocabulary.
Anyway, I promise I've also been learning a lot about the ear, but I'll spare you the details. For now, at least ;)
I don't know how often I'll get to post about my experiences of going to grad school to become an audiologist. But I've had several requests and inquiries about my experiences in grad school, my experiences in moving from the west to the east, and my experiences in the field of audiology, so I figured this was the easiest way to share.
I by no means am an expert in anything graduate school-, audiology-, or adult-related, but I'm learning! Thanks to all my family and friends who support me and encourage me and have faith in me, sometimes more than I do in myself. I appreciate your confidence in, well-wishes for, and genuine curiosity about me and my endeavors.
I leave you with some ear humor.
