Progress

Returning to school after an eight-year hiatus filled me with quite a bit of apprehension at the beginning of the semester. I had all kinds of insecure thoughts swirling through my head, everything from feeling technologically impaired, to worrying about being too old or uncool to hang out with my classmates, to concerns that I'd forgotten how to study and would not perform up to my own expectations. I also tend to be a quiet observer in the classroom, and compared to most of the others who have years of experience in a library and have been sharing their knowledge with the class, I have felt like I'm way out of my league.

Now I'm finding that I shouldn't have been worried at all! The work's tough, but I'm hanging in there. I got 2 assignments back last week and made A's on both, one of which was the 2nd highest grade in the class. Score!! My fears are subsiding. I can do this. I am just as, if not more, capable of succeeding at graduate level work compared to the others in my class. And I WILL kick butt in earning my degree, no matter what it takes!

I also love how my social circles are expanding. Last week, several of us went out to dinner before a lecture, and I noticed that I was the oldest person sitting at the table. I realized that I truly enjoy being back in college at this phase of my life. I'm young enough to relate to the fresh-out-of-undergrad crowd, yet settled enough to fit squarely into the old-and-married group. I also love being married and in school. Not only am I removed from the distractions of dating, but I get to come home to my #1 motivator!

To think... I sent in my application last winter truly on a whim and barely made the deadline. Taking that one little step dramatically altered the course of my life. I was frozen for a couple of years, but I'm back now in a big way. What will my next step be?