The first semester of any school -- grad school, undergrad, high school, whatever -- is full of new experiences, new hope and scholarly energy. I busted into graduate school ready to succeed, or at least prove that success is an option. Getting straight A's was paramount. I read everything the teach told me to. I stayed up until all hours a week before a project was due to make sure I didn't get behind. I made myself overachieve.
The second semester has been a little different. The first few weeks were like coming out of a holiday coma. The homework took on more of a "what do I have to do to get by" instead of "what has been assigned." Horrible, but true.
The second semester also brings with it the inevitable "oh crap, i am entrenched in this grad school thing...i hope it works out like i hope. What if I can't get a job? What if I graduate and realize I am right back where I started before I even entered into this program? Crap."
Guarantees? Nope. No guarantees. And that is extremely frustrating. But, such is life.
I heard recently from a TV show (the ultimate channel for all psychological advice, right?) that we are the sum of our decisions. Those make us, for good or bad.
You have to have faith that you are doing the right thing for yourself at this point in time. Keep moving forward. Trust that it will work out OK, and keep on chuggin'. (like a train, not beer)
*Note: this was really more of a motivational talk for than for any reader, but maybe it will help someone else, too. I'm going to go watch Say Anything now. I need to watch John Cusack kickbox.
