Some Other Beginning's End

College graduate. I've got to get used to the sound of that. Along with my graduation, news of work study and grad fellowship employment have rolled in, making me feel a bit less suffocated by the amount of loans I've taken.

My friends from undergraduate are literally moving all around the world. Seattle, Germany, Chicago, New York, North Carolina, Atlanta. Seriously the list goes on and on. I'm trying to remember that moving back home isn't a failure for me, but rather a smart decision while I pursue a degree from that prestigious school of mine. It's sometimes hard to buy.

All that is between me and beginning this next step is an online statistics course, a move, and a last summer of freedom. Here's to naps and afternoon cocktails.

Coming together

Seven days until graduation.

Six weeks until my online statistics class begins.

3.5 months until my graduate education begins.

2 years until I'm an MSW.

Life is getting real.

I got a graduate fellowship at my University, which makes me feel so much better about the logistics of surviving graduate school with little income and lots of loans. Let's just hope this all ends up as well as it seems it's going.

Paying it...at all

The social worker in me loves the idea of paying it forward, but right now, that is overshadowed by something looming much larger-paying tuition.

The fancy program I'm going to has the top ranking, the bells and whistles, and probably gold-encrusted diplomas-all which comes at a high price. I received a scholarship, which is great and all, but just a drop in the bucket of the 70 grand or so it's going to take me to get my MSW.

I'm doing everything I can think of to make it more affordable. I'm applying to grad assistantships like no one's business. I actually emailed admissions and asked them to reconsider my scholarship. I'm pinching pennies and reacquainting myself with Ramen.

Here's to hoping some more moolah falls from the sky in to this poor baby social worker's hard working lap.

It's Getting Very Real

During the last week or so, I've made some serious progress in making this whole "I'm going to move back in with my parents and become a social worker" thing real.

I paid my enrollment fee to WUSTL, registered for orientation, rejected my other acceptances, did my loan counseling (for the omgz 8 million dollars of debt I'm about to put myself into), and started cleaning out my childhood bedroom so it's more suitable for grownup me to live in.

I've been taking a step back from my doula training lately. There is just so many other things happening right now and I don't feel like I could devote myself to a client the way I think is right. I missed the birth of my last client, and I hated how that felt. I don't want to put myself in that position again. I'm trying to stay immersed in the birthing community through my academic research and blog reading in my spare time, but I do miss the feeling of actually working with a family.

The next few months will be an interesting time for me as I start to make all the steps necessary to making this dream a reality. Let's hope there are more highs than lows...