University of Dayton - MyLife

From School to Work

I have begun my third and what will be my final summer at MHAP (Mental Health Access Point). I say this is my final summer at MHAP, not because I dislike the agency (in fact I love it), but because the doctoral program that I will be in this upcoming fall for Wright State is a five year program that is year-round, meaning it is over the summer quarter as well. Although I am a little sad to leave MHAP, especially since I just received a pay raise, I am happy to move on to "bigger and better things".

The transition from school to work is something that although I enjoy because of the change of pace, I dread as well. The reason why I dread it so much is because I begin to realize what life without school is really like. Waking up at what I feel the crack of dawn is, 7:30 am, driving 30 minutes in rush hour traffic, sitting at a desk for 8 hours, and then driving 30 minutes back in rush hour traffic is not my idea of a "good life"! I know several of my friends that have graduated and our beginning what I call "real life". For me however, I am glad that I am going back to school because this "real world" doesn't seem that all appealing to me. The way I figure it, the longer you stay in school, the more knowledge you can obtain, as well as the more bonding you can do with your peers and actually learn from them. Some people, I would go as far as to say most, continue onto graduate programs and upper-level education so that they can make more money than if they simply stopped at undergrad. Although that may be a motivator for me, it is not the sole reason why I chose to attend graduate school.

The reasons why I chose to attend graduate school range from wanting to learn more in the field of psychology than I already know, to gaining new experiences from my fellow colleagues. The latter of the two is strangely enough, more important to me because I feel that people, not books or stories mind you, teach us more about life than one can possibly imagine. The best part about Wright State's School of Professional Psychology is the way they pride themselves on diversity. I am excited to get started in a whole new school, meet tons of new people from different ethnic and geographical backgrounds, and see what I can learn from them. The most fascinating part I think is that I may be one of the youngest members of my class.

I was shocked when I realized that 3, yes 3 individuals from Wright State's PsyD program actually work here at MHAP! One of my supervisors explained to me that MHAP usually gets a few interns, but that this is the most that they have ever received from Wright State at the same time. How ironic is it that I would be here during my very last summer, about to enter the same program that 3 students are already here doing? I talked to Nathan, a current second year student in the program and he reassured me of many of my fears. He also explained to me that he, like myself, was one of the youngest members of his class because, just as I did, went from a 4-year undergraduate program straight to the doctoral program. He went on to explain to me that it is very "interesting" meshing with individuals who are perhaps twice his age, but that, "it does make for a good experience". I am filled with anticipation and to be honest, I am up for the new challenge.

Overall I hope all of my viewers are doing well and make sure you remember to live life to its fullest and if I could make a take-away message from this blog I would go back to the childhood phrase that I used to hear on the playground, "it's cool to stay in school". Take care and I love you all!

May 31, 2007 10:48 AM Permalink