Danger... Heavy Load.
It's after 1 AM on Thursday night/Friday morning. Less than 100 hours away stands what will hopefully be a very long and relaxing Christmas break. But what stands between me and the yuletide heaven towards which I strive? My 10 pages of 30-40 page paper and an exam regarding the inner workings of a finance director's duties.
Ahh, welcome to graduate school. THIS is orientation. Yeah, I had some of those things they call orientation when I first got here. I stood in a big circle with all of the HPER kids who don't know each other, and we stood shoulder to shoulder, turned to the right and sat on each other's laps. But knowing that the person behind and in front of me isn't going to fall and I'm going to magically find a place to rest momentarily when no chair exists didn't really do a whole heckuva lot to indoctrinate me into the wonderful world of post-graduate study.
NOW I'm learning. I have already had a hand in 48 pages of research and analysis that has been turned in to graduate professors this week. Yes, THIS week. I personally wrote a little over 20 pages of those. Like I said, before this week is over, I will be able to add at least an additional 10 pages to that tally. And let's not forget the finance exam Monday morning.
You see friends, I spent my first four weeks here at lovely IU thinking that grad school was just like undergrad. Specifically, that I could go to class, plug out the homework in a relatively short period of time, and then spend a few hours reading or micro-managing a soccer team on my computer. Not so anymore. In fact, my books are gathering dust and my "players" have probably given me up for dead.
But like the old cliche goes, "if it were easy, everyone would do it." And through this whole process, I feel as though this will be a crowning accomplishment for me when I get through it (or should I say "if"). And I still feel pretty good about the path I have chosen as a career. Although I have no idea where in the country it will lead me, there's something inherently exciting about that.
My point is this, sports fans: some of you out there are thinking about graduate school, like I was a year ago. And to you I say only this: don't do it on a whim. Thankfully I took a long, hard look before I made the decision to do more schooling so I don't regret making the decision, but that doesn't mean it's been easy. This has certainly been the most trying few weeks I've experienced in school and I'm not out of the woods (for 3 weeks) until next Monday. Certainly, all the work gets done, but make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into.
Anyhoo, enough preaching, I've got 10 more pages to write.
Quick decisions are unsafe decisions.
-Sophocles
Ahh, welcome to graduate school. THIS is orientation. Yeah, I had some of those things they call orientation when I first got here. I stood in a big circle with all of the HPER kids who don't know each other, and we stood shoulder to shoulder, turned to the right and sat on each other's laps. But knowing that the person behind and in front of me isn't going to fall and I'm going to magically find a place to rest momentarily when no chair exists didn't really do a whole heckuva lot to indoctrinate me into the wonderful world of post-graduate study.
NOW I'm learning. I have already had a hand in 48 pages of research and analysis that has been turned in to graduate professors this week. Yes, THIS week. I personally wrote a little over 20 pages of those. Like I said, before this week is over, I will be able to add at least an additional 10 pages to that tally. And let's not forget the finance exam Monday morning.
You see friends, I spent my first four weeks here at lovely IU thinking that grad school was just like undergrad. Specifically, that I could go to class, plug out the homework in a relatively short period of time, and then spend a few hours reading or micro-managing a soccer team on my computer. Not so anymore. In fact, my books are gathering dust and my "players" have probably given me up for dead.
But like the old cliche goes, "if it were easy, everyone would do it." And through this whole process, I feel as though this will be a crowning accomplishment for me when I get through it (or should I say "if"). And I still feel pretty good about the path I have chosen as a career. Although I have no idea where in the country it will lead me, there's something inherently exciting about that.
My point is this, sports fans: some of you out there are thinking about graduate school, like I was a year ago. And to you I say only this: don't do it on a whim. Thankfully I took a long, hard look before I made the decision to do more schooling so I don't regret making the decision, but that doesn't mean it's been easy. This has certainly been the most trying few weeks I've experienced in school and I'm not out of the woods (for 3 weeks) until next Monday. Certainly, all the work gets done, but make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into.
Anyhoo, enough preaching, I've got 10 more pages to write.
Quick decisions are unsafe decisions.
-Sophocles
posted by Brad at
1:31 AM
3 Comments:
i know how you feel. ehhh. I'll be back home in about 35 hours to talk more on the subject. see you soon
Brad, if it's any consolation, just know that you're not alone. I'll probably be working all weekend revising my Senior Honors Project, a paper presently 38 pages in length, but likely to grow. I too can't wait until Monday!
When all of this is done, hopefully we can have some fun and relax a bit over the break. Speaking of that, I look forward to hearing graduate school stories from all of you guys, since I'm presently considering that route myself. Cya all soon.
It's nice to know that I'm not alone! Getting close to the finish (tomorrow), and can't wait to be done! I'd enjoy talking to you guys and anyone else that's on the fence about the ups and downs. From what I hear Justin and Ted will be down here on Friday to hang out so there's plenty of additional floor space if anyone else is interested in tagging along!
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