Comments on: Welcome to the real world she said to me http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/ Overcoming the Quarter-life Crisis Fri, 18 May 2012 11:26:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Michelle http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-1229 Michelle Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:58:49 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-1229 I totally agree with 9 and 10. I started a Master's program immediately after undergrad and ended up dropping out towards the end of the first semester. I continued to make a series of bad choices, ultimately leading me back to graduate school. I am in my last two weeks of my (again) first semester and have never enjoyed school more! I plan on going on to earn a Ph.D. I am already starting to feel like #9 above: My friends from undergrad are already getting married and some have started having children. Yet I am so busy with my education and working that I don't have time to meet anyone, let alone have a serious relationship. I definitely long for a house of my own, a husband and children.... I totally agree with 9 and 10. I started a Master’s program immediately after undergrad and ended up dropping out towards the end of the first semester. I continued to make a series of bad choices, ultimately leading me back to graduate school. I am in my last two weeks of my (again) first semester and have never enjoyed school more! I plan on going on to earn a Ph.D. I am already starting to feel like #9 above: My friends from undergrad are already getting married and some have started having children. Yet I am so busy with my education and working that I don’t have time to meet anyone, let alone have a serious relationship. I definitely long for a house of my own, a husband and children….

]]> By: Lauren http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-730 Lauren Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:36:01 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-730 Taking some time off from school was one of the best things I did. Somehow, during that time, my true passions came out as I realized that I most certainly could not do THIS (current job) for the rest of my life. And now, I'm ready to get back to school and have such a passion for it that I know I will be successful. It's a wonderful feeling to just want to LEARN and a feeling I don't think I have really experienced before. Being in the real world made me realize that I want to do more and achieve more...and I finally have a heart ready to commit to it!! Taking some time off from school was one of the best things I did. Somehow, during that time, my true passions came out as I realized that I most certainly could not do THIS (current job) for the rest of my life.

And now, I’m ready to get back to school and have such a passion for it that I know I will be successful. It’s a wonderful feeling to just want to LEARN and a feeling I don’t think I have really experienced before.

Being in the real world made me realize that I want to do more and achieve more…and I finally have a heart ready to commit to it!!

]]> By: Princess Pointful http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-713 Princess Pointful Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:16:21 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-713 I'm one of those people who won't hit the real world for a few more years. I took one year off between my undergrad and Masters, but as most people know, that "year off" is anything but-- working two jobs, applying for grants, and busting my butt to get into grad school. I'm now somewhat near the end of my PhD in clinical psychology. I have been in post secondary education for nearly 9 years. Although I'm glad I did it, and I am truly passionate about what I do... sometimes I wish I hadn't been in such a hurry. I get jealous of my friends who own places, who have travelled, etc, etc-- 9 years of tuition have meant that I still don't own my first car! I’m one of those people who won’t hit the real world for a few more years. I took one year off between my undergrad and Masters, but as most people know, that “year off” is anything but– working two jobs, applying for grants, and busting my butt to get into grad school.

I’m now somewhat near the end of my PhD in clinical psychology. I have been in post secondary education for nearly 9 years. Although I’m glad I did it, and I am truly passionate about what I do… sometimes I wish I hadn’t been in such a hurry. I get jealous of my friends who own places, who have travelled, etc, etc– 9 years of tuition have meant that I still don’t own my first car!

]]> By: Erin http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-712 Erin Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:45:35 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-712 When I first got out of school, my dad would give me his, "It's tough to be an adult," lecture every time I saw him. The thing is, though, I love being an adult. Sure, there are months when adult things suck...but there are a lot of really great things about the real world...my house, my job, being able to take care of myself. I got my Master's degree immediately following my undergrad. For me, the choice was easy. My University wanted me to stay on, they were paying for my Master's, and as a teacher it would mean significantly more money when I did get a job. I do want to do back and get my Ph.D. someday, but no program worth anything will let you get a Ph.D. in education without real world experience. Now that I have that, it's all about the timing and finding the right place to go. When I first got out of school, my dad would give me his, “It’s tough to be an adult,” lecture every time I saw him. The thing is, though, I love being an adult. Sure, there are months when adult things suck…but there are a lot of really great things about the real world…my house, my job, being able to take care of myself.

I got my Master’s degree immediately following my undergrad. For me, the choice was easy. My University wanted me to stay on, they were paying for my Master’s, and as a teacher it would mean significantly more money when I did get a job.

I do want to do back and get my Ph.D. someday, but no program worth anything will let you get a Ph.D. in education without real world experience. Now that I have that, it’s all about the timing and finding the right place to go.

]]> By: Kyla Bea http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-711 Kyla Bea Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:29:22 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-711 I've been struggling with that too, about my masters. For my position I don't need a masters to advance, I can work hard and train outside of grad school. My work is offering to invest training in me and wants me to end up in one of the senior management positions, and to me that's pretty appealing. For me, working is harder than school because I have to set my own goals and measure my success for myself - but I'm happy with that, even if it's a struggle sometimes. I'm not sure if you've taught before, but in all the universities I know, you can teach with an MBA - why not try teaching now and see how you like it? Even just for a year. I have a few friends with Masters Degrees who are teaching, some love it and some hate it. Some have stopped teaching already. If you can get a taste of what you're heading into without waiting 5 years to do it, that could be a move that's easier on your relationship & that calms down the questioning for your career. I’ve been struggling with that too, about my masters. For my position I don’t need a masters to advance, I can work hard and train outside of grad school. My work is offering to invest training in me and wants me to end up in one of the senior management positions, and to me that’s pretty appealing.

For me, working is harder than school because I have to set my own goals and measure my success for myself - but I’m happy with that, even if it’s a struggle sometimes.

I’m not sure if you’ve taught before, but in all the universities I know, you can teach with an MBA - why not try teaching now and see how you like it? Even just for a year. I have a few friends with Masters Degrees who are teaching, some love it and some hate it. Some have stopped teaching already.

If you can get a taste of what you’re heading into without waiting 5 years to do it, that could be a move that’s easier on your relationship & that calms down the questioning for your career.

]]> By: brandy http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-710 brandy Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:22:00 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-710 Ahh, I know the worries and frustrations that you speak of! I've always wanted to get my masters but the cost of it all just overwhelmed me. I'm one of those people who could be a permanent student, I like school that much. If only I could figure out a way to do ALL OF IT for free. Fingers crossed that you get accepted some place wonderful! Ahh, I know the worries and frustrations that you speak of! I’ve always wanted to get my masters but the cost of it all just overwhelmed me. I’m one of those people who could be a permanent student, I like school that much. If only I could figure out a way to do ALL OF IT for free. Fingers crossed that you get accepted some place wonderful!

]]> By: teality http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-709 teality Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:57:27 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-709 I'm currently applying to Masters programs, and though things might change, I see myself going straight to a PhD program after that. The real world? What is the real world? I’m currently applying to Masters programs, and though things might change, I see myself going straight to a PhD program after that. The real world? What is the real world?

]]> By: Meri http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-708 Meri Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:05:14 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-708 I'm a semi-long distance relationship with my husband right now due to school. I say semi because he's only about 5 hours away, so we can still see each other on the weekends. It's still really hard though. I had a really hard time with my decision to pursue my Master's and be away from him for a few years (my program is 2 1/2 years, includes a post-bac year and then I need to apply for grad school). I hummed and hawed about it for a long time. And then I felt supremely guilty. Now I'm doing a little better, but it's still often pretty rough. But we decided together that I should go for it. We have a goal in our minds of how we want our lives to be and this career that I'm pursuing might possibly (hopefully) make it easier to reach those goals in a shorter period of time. There were other ways to reach those goals (I could have chosen a different career), but this was something that I was interested in. So we made a decision and hopefully it works out for the best. Good luck to you! I know long distance is sometimes crappy, but it can be done. I’m a semi-long distance relationship with my husband right now due to school. I say semi because he’s only about 5 hours away, so we can still see each other on the weekends. It’s still really hard though.
I had a really hard time with my decision to pursue my Master’s and be away from him for a few years (my program is 2 1/2 years, includes a post-bac year and then I need to apply for grad school). I hummed and hawed about it for a long time. And then I felt supremely guilty. Now I’m doing a little better, but it’s still often pretty rough.
But we decided together that I should go for it. We have a goal in our minds of how we want our lives to be and this career that I’m pursuing might possibly (hopefully) make it easier to reach those goals in a shorter period of time. There were other ways to reach those goals (I could have chosen a different career), but this was something that I was interested in. So we made a decision and hopefully it works out for the best. Good luck to you! I know long distance is sometimes crappy, but it can be done.

]]> By: Hi! I’m Not Here Right Now « A Blog of Her Own http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-707 Hi! I’m Not Here Right Now « A Blog of Her Own Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:12:16 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-707 [...] Over thata-way. [...] [...] Over thata-way. [...]

]]> By: Paula http://ummnowwhat.com/2008/11/08/welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me/#comment-706 Paula Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:57:13 +0000 http://ummnowwhat.com/?p=224#comment-706 My flatmate is currently doing a masters in HR while juggling a full time job and, while ultimately it is going to help her get a far better job, I don't envy her the hell she has been through the last year. She had no time for anything, was constantly skint and stressed out - she knows it is going to be worth it in the end, but right now she just wants it all over and done with! My flatmate is currently doing a masters in HR while juggling a full time job and, while ultimately it is going to help her get a far better job, I don’t envy her the hell she has been through the last year. She had no time for anything, was constantly skint and stressed out - she knows it is going to be worth it in the end, but right now she just wants it all over and done with!

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