This time for me last year was difficult. I was an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Cruz with two jobs and a wedding to plan. Filling out graduate applications with all of the writing and rewriting of personal statements was tiring. It was the bane of my existence. I just wanted the applications to magically be complete so I could continue doing what I love most. I am almost one-hundred percent sure that I submitted a few of my applications at once-at 4:37 in the morning from my laptop while laying on my living room floor after pulling an all-nighter to complete them! I empathize strongly with you who are working on those applications right now.
There is something else on my mind: it is time to make this blog a little bit more interactive! to start, here is what I would like to do. I would like to know a little bit about you! How you are doing? What would you would like to see in my blog? Please leave comments in the comments section and I will respond.I may even post about one of your suggested topics!
I have the infamous Friday song stuck in my head. It is not ok.
Also, I wanted to share the birthday card my husband bought me.
Yea. I'm 22.
Hey Rhiannon!
ReplyDeleteThank You for this. It's comforting to know that the stress I'm going through right now, trying to get my application in, is normal. I'm in the process of completing my application.. I'm taking my GRE next week and it's all I'm really missing but I'm really worried about it though... I hate standardized exams :/.
I've been keeping up with your blogs since I found out about penngse and I really do feel like I know you! Your blogs are truly inspiring, especially for me who has just recently graduated college and because in many ways I can definitely relate.
I would definitely love to know how life in Philly is. How easy was it for you to transition? In terms of moving, making friends, life with your husband and being away from home? I have lived on Guam for the past 22 years of my life and penngse is my first choice for graduate study and I'm definitely nervous about the transition(thats saying that I do get into the program... which I really hope I do).
Happy Belated Birthday!
Mark
Hi Mark!
ReplyDeleteThe stress you are feeling is completely normal.
Moving to Philadelphia was a bigger transition than I had anticipated. For my whole life, I had lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, and loved every minute of it. It is crazy how much you do without knowing it until you leave home. It is hard to explain, but I am very Californian culturally. People use the weather difference as a go-to way of explaining the difference, which is fine -- but I see the weather thing as a simple way of saying, "it is actually pretty different out here." I am tremendously grateful to have experienced both coasts of America, and plan on staying out here after I finish the program.
In terms of friends, I spend so much time at GSE with the people in my program that they are my friends! I am not a full-fledged local, and would not expect to be in a few short months. Being away form old friends is tough, but with Skype, I still get to see them once in a while. Being away form brothers, parents, nieces and nephews is the hardest part. Parts of my family are growing without me there for the first time, but that is a part of me growing up no matter where I go. I imagine you may experience some of the same feelings.
Thank you for the birthday wishes and good luck with your application process. Don't sweat it, or if you do, remember that everyone does!
--Rhiannon