On graduate school...
Grad school seems to get easier and easier with each passing semester. I used to say that grad school is like a big thug gorilla demanding to know who you are every day. Some days it's easy to answer succinctly, and with confidence, other days the mere question sends you scuttling into a dark hole to find an answer. I feel like I'm getting better at answering with confidence. Mostly. On graduate students... I think we all have some measure of OCD, bizarre tendencies, and fanatical obsession about our areas of interest. This can be great social support and can also be one's worst nightmare. Finding a balance with others and within yourself is good, necessary. On HDFS... I absolutely love this program. I get exposed to SO many opportunities every week, month, semester, year. The faculty are open and friendly, the grad student atmosphere is very collegial - all of which makes surviving - and thriving - that much easier to do. I've learned and grown so much since the beginning that I'm truly amazed. It hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it. | On State College...
It takes a bit to adjust to State College - especially if you come from a metropolitan or urban area. Moving from Atlanta, I have found that the change in recreational and entertainment options has forced me to seek out new interests. The Happy Valley area offers a lot of natural beauty and ways to explore the outdoors. I've been able to incorporate this into my life and grow in new directions that I never expected. I've taken up running on farm roads, hiking, and gardening. Growing with other people going through the same transition is a pretty cool experience too. On travel... Traveling within PA and outside of PA has been the hardest adjustment for me. I have found it particularly difficult to find good flights back home for a reasonable price. I've also found it difficult to navigate some of the state roads. Another adjustment that has taken time. I do LOVE being so close to Philly and NYC. It's much cheaper to get there from here than from Atlanta! On the weather... Winter is not nearly as bad as I had feared. And I have come to appreciate the snow, and all of its varied types. The summers are more humid than I expected, but still so much easier to deal with than when living in a concrete jungle city. I will say that my first winter was difficult because I wasn't used to so little sunlight. I didn't experience SAD per se, but rather found it hard to focus or stay awake. The second winter was MUCH easier, number 3 was way too long. So far winter 4 is incredibly mild. < thanks > |
