Grad school: 3 quarters (almost) down, 2 to go!
As is indicated by the lack of news from me and most of our other bloggers, Spring quarter has been a bit of a drag. Second-year students warned me that spring quarter is a challenge not only because we’re in school (or writing finals) into the first week of June, but also due to general burn-out after three rigorous academic quarters. I didn’t think it’d be too tough, but the end of this quarter has definitely taken its toll. I have only one final left that’s due next Monday then I’m home to North Carolina for 11 days of sweltering heat and some R&R with my family (and my cat!).
Despite the general burnt-out feelings, I can’t believe I’m almost finished with my first year of graduate school. I have a short summer-quarter and two full quarters left (thankfully not another Spring quarter!) until I leave for the Peace Corps. It is very feasible that this time next year I will be in a far-away place starting my three-month training while living with a host family and acclimating to the culture, food and lifestyle of the country I’ll call home for the next two years. It’s incredible the amount I’ve learned in 8 months of classes and I can’t wait to get in the field and put it to work. I’m hoping more and more for Eastern Europe and even have been so bold as to hope for either Bulgaria or Romania as they’re the only Peace Corps host countries that are also EU member states. Of course anywhere I go will be a wonderful experience, but I really hope the classes I’m taking to develop an Eastern European regional concentration will be put to use!
Many of my friends are headed abroad this summer for amazing international internships–I’ll have friends in Africa, Bosnia, South Africa and Costa Rica to name a few. As for me I’ll be staying in Denver to take some summer courses and will continue working at the Admissions Office. Though I would love to do an internship, it’s a relief to know I don’t have to complete one to graduate as I’ll pretty much have a 2-year internship after I finish my coursework. It sure does make me breathe a sigh of relief when I think about how I would have had to juggle finishing classes and finals while also attempting to line-up all of the logistics of traveling and living abroad as well as trying to rent out my apartment for the summer—wow, I’m so ok staying in Denver! There are plenty of friends (and my sister too!) in town for the summer and I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the beautiful Colorado summer and the activities that go along with that. In fact, this Sunday I’ll be floating down the Colorado on a rafting trip with a group of fellow Admin-students, can’t wait!
Summer’s bound to be a slower pace in the Admissions Office so I’m hoping to take the opportunity to blog some more on other topics not directly related to school. Until then, happy summer vacation!
