As children, adults would often ask us what we wanted to be when we grew up. We would contemplate the options for a moment and spout out the job that we were currently the most interested in; doctor, nurse, mommy, daddy, astronaut, cowboy, etc. This response was commonly followed with, "You can be whatever you set your mind to!"
I am not saying that we were lied to as children, but I am saying that the reality of the amount of schooling needed to obtain these titles was often down played until later into our high-school careers. Only until halfway through high-school, when college hunting is beginning, are we hit with the crushing reality that some of our dream jobs require much more than a two or four year degree. For some, career paths change in undergrad while others remain firmly planted through working on their degree. We work really hard, apply to graduate level programs, graduate with our four year degree, and prepare to begin our new adventure. Ready or not, here I come!
5 Things They Do Not Tell You About Grad School:
1. Scholarships are plentiful in undergraduate work but few and far between after that.
If you avoided loans in undergrad, pat yourself of the back but also be prepared to sign your life away for school money.
2. You are always behind, you never actually catch up.
This does not give you an excuse to slack off, but don't beat yourself up for not getting ahead.
3. You will have to choose between having a social life, sleep, and homework more times than not.
It's sad but true, even on the weekends you will have to sacrifice something.
4. You will grow and learn a lot more about yourself than anticipated.
You start thinking more about the future outside of school and you start defining and solidifying different aspects about you and your personality. You will make and lose friends. Laugh and cry and oftentimes determine who you are apart from your family of origin.
5. You will learn to cherish the concept of self-care.
It might seem obsolete, especially after reading number three, but you will have to learn to incorporate different self-care techniques into your daily life in an effort to maintain your sanity, or at least what's left of it.
Ready. Set. Go! Jump in feet first, try your hardest, laugh, cry, and grow as you push yourself farther than you ever have before!
