No matter the major, I have no doubt that every college student has their struggles throughout their college career. From the hectic midterm and finals weeks to the group projects (that end up becoming independent projects), or the balance between school and maintaining a social life I can totally relate to the hardships of the four year journey that can feel like forever. Lucky for most, all of the hard work pays off in when you walk with your peers and snag that degree that will help you land a job and become a successful professional. However, there are some students who are aiming for a career that requires time spent studying in graduate school, and I am one of them. Usually when I mention this to people, a whole list of questions and assumptions about my life plans shortly follow that I’d like to address.

1. No, I’m not crazy. Believe it or not, this is something I genuinely want. I feel so incredibly lucky to know exactly what I want to do with my life, and I’m not willing to let more time spent learning stop me from achieving my goals. In fact, it may sound crazy, but I even enjoy learning. Continuing school makes me excited, because it means I’m learning how to do exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. I realize how challenging it will likely be, and am ready to commit.
2. Yes, I realize graduate programs are expensive. Luckily, some schools are able to give out scholarship money and offer work study positions; some are even flexible enough with class scheduling to work with students if they need to maintain a part-time job. Also, some programs aren’t necessary to go into right after finishing up an undergraduate degree. There is the option to take some time to work and save up for school. Unfortunately I don’t have this option because my undergraduate degree is designed to go into graduate school right after completing undergrad, and I would likely get a poor paying with my undergraduate degree (and likely a job that is not what I want to do). Obviously, part-time jobs and scholarships aren’t enough to pay for absolutely every dime of attending graduate school regardless, and I do realize I will be in more debt. But like I said, there’s a much bigger reason I want to do this.
3. It’s really not all about the money I’ll make. While it’s likely true that more money comes from a degree in graduate studies, I would not put myself through an intense graduate program full of debt and stress just for the money. To be honest, I don’t even know that you’d be successful if that was the main goal, anyway. You have to love what you learn in order to dedicate 6-8 years studying it. But yes, money is of course a factor.
4. Some programs are competitive. This is why I spend my weekends studying, get involved in as many clubs and organizations as feasibly possible, choose to complete an internship, conduct research, take a heavy course load, try to maintain a ridiculous G.P.A, and integrate naps into my daily schedule. Graduate programs do not accept everyone; in fact, the programs I’m looking into usually have 10 students on average in their entire program. Blending in with my peers isn’t an option.
5. 5.I realize I’m prolonging my “settling down” years, and I’m okay with that. Yes, I do realize that by the time I complete my doctorate degree, it will be the year 2022 and I will be 26 just getting my first real job. I realize that I will likely want to spend a few years after that working, a few traveling, and a few spending time with friends and family to make up for picking up the phone when I’d call hysterically crying about my upcoming exams (8 years in a row). I realize this puts me at “settling” down at around 30. Yes, I’ve thought about it. Loving what I do for the rest of my life is important to me as I see how evident it is that we live in a world where so many people hate their jobs. I don’t ever want to think of job as “work”, and I’m willing to sacrifice societal norms for my own happiness.

Graduate school will probably be one of the most stressful times of my life, but if that means waking up happy every day knowing I chose the right career for me, then so be it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with settling down early, not going to college, or partying your college degree away; those are all choices you are to make. I simply recognize my purpose in life, and refuse to let anything get in the way of it.