Back To School: Part 17

After never quite starting my college career post-high school (I basically went where my friends went then dropped out after a year), I finally went back to community college in my late 20s, earned my Associate’s degree (6 years later, eek!), then transferred to UCLA where I received a Bachelors in psychology. This was all while I was working, married, raising a son, and being an older student (i.e., not having the energy of an 18-year-old kid). I’m sharing all of this not because I want to brag (mostly), but because I don’t believe we give ourselves enough credit for all of the things we have done, nor do we have an easy time of actualizing the potential in ourselves due to this lack of internal reflection of our successes and capabilities.

After being a developmental psychopathology research intern my last year at UCLA, I decided that I truly wanted pursue my PhD in psychology so that I might help find new ways to assist others through their lives, as well as teaching students who would like to do the same. I’ve already begun studying for the GRE. Cheers to all the words I will cram into my brain and all the coffees I will consume.

Wednesday begins my journey of looking at PhD or Ed.d programs to see if they fit with my various psychological/educational research interests by heading to an open house at a nearby school, as well as some other information meetings later this week.

Call me crazy, but I miss school. Even with all of my family/professional priorities, I find that I am most balanced when I have a structured schedules with courses that feed my curiosity, then getting to apply and share this new knowledge with the many people I meet in life or online to really accentuate the effect.

Not too long ago, I never imagined I would be at this point in life; but here I am, having grown quite a bit, while looking for more growth and connections with others, as well as myself. So hang in there. Study up and drink all the coffees.