Sunday, May 20, 2012

This is where am currently, just so you know

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Decisions, decisions

As many of you know, I've been toying with my options in grad school. It's just time for a Master's Degree and to specialize in my field a bit. I have quite a bit of work experience in the education field. I have found out from experience that early childhood regular education is just not my thing. Hated the traditional classroom setting and how things are done in most schools. I do love working with children on an individual basis and found a great bit of enjoyment as a reading tutor, mentor, after school program leader, and classroom assistant (more individual work and in-depth classroom discussions with small groups.) I even loved teaching English abroad. I'm currently working in a group home with individuals with varying degrees of physical and developmental disabilities. Love it. But it's time to grow up, gain more skills and education. For the past year post Korea I've been preparing for a career in Speech and Language Pathology. I've been shadowing people in the field, taking additional coursework needed for grad programs, researching grad programs, etc. I'm fairly versed in American Sign Language (I could communicate with a deaf kid, age 4 if I needed to.)
I took an anatomy class and over all the field is just really interesting. I applied to the program for next year at my local state university. I didn't get into the Masters SLP program for this year. They accept 25/200 and the feedback they gave me was basically, you're good, but we have better. A few students I've talked to (about 10 or so) said they were accepted on their second attempt. However, upon completion of the application process, I received a letter and then a call admitting me to the Multiple/Severe Disabilities master's program at the same school, in a different department. No questions asked, just welcome to the program. So somehow that tells me from my application that they think I'm a better fit for that program. Maybe I am really a special ed teacher at heart? Do I go for it? Or wait another year to see if I get in to the SLP program? Taking classes is not an option, as graduate courses don't transfer like undergrad credits. It also doesn't help that I'm 30 now and already beating myself up over "wasted" time. I hate making decisions! Any feedback from the peanut gallery would be welcomed.

Friday, May 11, 2012

This is my story: Listen carefully

This is the story of a girl. No, this is the working story of a girl. This is the story of a girl trying to write her own story. No, this is the story of said girl trying to erase some of her past. This girl has had a very weird couple of months. Lots of firsts, lots of changes. Lots of progress with her goals, but a little bit of fun thrown in there too. This girl doesn't know where to go next.
She is supposed to be applying to Master's programs in Speech Language Pathology. Every time she look on ASHA's website, she is confused. Just pick a state, she says to herself. Choose a destiny. How does one even do that. She might as well go ahead and throw a dart at a map blindfolded. And why isn't she in the Peace Corps like she said she'd be this time last year? Because she said it's time to grow up. Get a real life, whatever that means.

Source: google.com via Holly on Pinterest

Grad school scares this girl. Oy. This girl will figure it out, and figure out that life is a journey, not a destination. This girl needs to learn how to enjoy the bumpy ride she calls life.