Well, it's official. I'm a big girl.
I'm two days in to my third week at CalState Long Beach. Also known as "Big Girl School".
It's bittersweet. Well, mostly sweet, but I definitely notice the age difference between myself and the vast majority of my peers. I can't really tell whether or not they notice as well, shit, I don't think I look THAT old... While I truly am proud of myself for finally making it to this point, there's definitely a part of me that wishes I'd done it sooner.
Two weeks down and I'm already feeling the crunch of pressure. Classes aren't difficult (yet) but they are time consuming. I'm still working 5-6 days a week (30+ hours/wk) and it feels like it never stops. School, work, school, work, school... It's a lot, that is, a lot more than I've been doing the last year or so. I haven't quite found my rhythm. I want to work less and study more but I'm nervous for finances. I was lucky enough to receive financial aid this semester, both grants and loans, but I just did my FAFSA for next year and I anticipate being a lot further down on that gift list next time around. So I'm trying to take advantage of that fact that my classes aren't yet difficult and work as much as possible and hopefully bank away some dinero. But I also want to make sure that I'm making school my number one priority. It took a long time to get here and I want to do it right. Get involved in campus life/politics/clubs, get connected with peers (young as they may be) and faculty, and, most importantly, straight A's. I'm paying for this education and I intend to get every last penny's worth, dammit.
I look forward to finding BALANCE, hopefully sooner than later.
As is the motto at my new school, GRADUATION BEGINS TODAY.
4 comments:
Congrats!
And yes, get involved. It will change the experience.
i like the way u focused, Wish u the best
I read this and feel a combination of pride (for you) and regret (for me). I've enjoyed the hell out of my 20's, but as they come to a close I look back and recognize all the small, insignificant reasons I made large, important decisions regarding my education, and I wonder just where I'd be if I'd done it differently.
But good for you, taking this big step, doing what you want to. Those of us who know you have no doubt you'll succeed.
CSULB is my Alma mata too. I spent my first two years studying in a private college in Germany and my last two years at Long Beach. I went from a campus of like 200 people to 50,000. Culture shock! Loved the school and graduated with a degree in Journalism. Good luck to you!
Post a Comment