This is me. I was about 15 standing in my grandmothers living room. I hated getting my picture taken, I hated attention. I am now 42 and I look at this younger picture of myself and I don't know this girl. This girl was dog paddling hard. She was trying to get to the next job, trying to figure out what she was going to do with her life. She was scared to death because nothing made sense. I still have nightmares that I am by myself and I am in this mindset. I am helpless. I am halfway through yoga teacher training and I learned so much about myself. I am letting go. I have no interest in planning my future. I am a life long learner and plan to ride that wave for the next 40 years. As I type this I am wedged between two of my dogs and no amount of money could compare to this. I am finally happy.

What Grad School Is REALLY Like

“Just more undergrad classes?” Yeah, I WISH. posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:52pm EST

Jessica Misener BuzzFeed Staff

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So you decided to go to grad school. Congratulations!

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Knowledge is pretty freaking cool.

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Someday you’ll get a fancy diploma that will help you earn more money, or whatever.

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But you know, a lot of people think that grad school is just like a continuation of undergrad. And it’s definitely NOT.

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For example, this was your school spirit in college:

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School spirit in grad school: Ain’t nobody got time for that.

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Social life in college:

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Social life in grad school:

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Leaving a progress meeting with your advisor in college:

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Leaving a progress meeting with your advisor in grad school:

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Your apartment in college:

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Your apartment in grad school:

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Drinking coffee in college:

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Coffee in grad school:

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Dating in college:

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Dating in grad school is more like:

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In college, your main job is to consume knowledge.

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In grad school, you’re supposed to be the one PRODUCING the knowledge.

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Fridays in college: no class.

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Fridays in grad school: IT NEVER STOPS.

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Your best friend in college:

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Your best friend in grad school:

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In college, you study really general things.

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In grad school, you focus on something so specialized you can discuss it with literally two other people on the planet.

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Spring break in college:

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Spring break in grad school: field trip to the archives.

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And finally, in college you feel pretty confident, because you were at the top of your class:

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But guess what? Everyone at grad school was the smartest kid at THEIR college, so now you’re like:

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But, college:

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Grad school:

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Thank you for this Amazing Journey

At least three deeply felt learnings from this program

I learned that the passion that I have from Early Childhood for me is greater for me than ever before also. I think in the 2 years that I have been at Walden I have changed as a young woman, I have grown. This isn’t just because of the classes, it was also that I had to seek out the information that I was looking for.

I also learned that I have the ability to inspire others despite the background that I have come from. I inspire that children that I am with everyday and I also inspire those who question whether this field is right for them. Through this inspiration I am able to ignore now those who say I should get a REAL job or look at what I do as babysitting. I learned that I am in a unique position to make real changes in this world.

I also learned (fingers crossed I did well on the Capstone) I am not the person that I once thought I was. I am able to achieve more and I don’t give myself enough credit for things that I do right.

    At least one long-term goal

A long term goal that I have for myself is to continue to grow as a professional and hopefully to attract others to this field that are as passionate. I would like to become an online professor one day. I have met so many amazing instructors and peers that I would like to stay in this world for a while. I would also like to work for PBS.

   

Reference

Interconnections (2013) retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6990/08/mm/interconnections/index.html


I want to Thank ALL my classmates and Dr. Teri for such an amazing journey. These videos inspire me, just as you do.
Jen

Where I Would Like to Work

Where I am interested in Working

The first place that I researched was employment through the UN jobs site.  The position is through Save the Children and it is part of the International Program Department of Education and Child Development. I would provide tech support and contribute to program development and focus on proposals and public donations.

This is the website http://unjobs.org/vacancies/1384818211569

I would need a Masters in Child Development and the ability to travel

The next position I found was through Association Childhood Education International. The position would be for me to identify grant opportunities, develop these grants for projects and work with the executive director

This is the site where I found the opportunity

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/ZXJGgf77skMD?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed

http://www.acei.org/ This is their website

For me to qualify for this job I would need 3-5 years in grant writing and a Masters. I need to work on the grant writing  part.

I think that I would also like to work for ICF International. They are located in Pennsylvania which is fairly close to me. I would be an early childhood specialist supporting HeadStart Programs and support the school readiness goals. This also sounds like an opportunity that would fit. I would need a BA in Early Childhood and experience in the field

http://www.glassdoor.com/job-listing/job.htm?jl=835768857&paoIdKey=MA==

This is the link