Tuesday Musings

Taking classes over the summer has been a great way to get a jump-start on my higher ed curriculum and get back into the swing of managing schoolwork and readings. However, this also means I have had minimal vacation time. Deciding to start grad school—especially choosing to begin early—has definitely required me to make sacrifices, whether that means passing on a trip with college friends so that I don’t miss any class periods or even having to say no to plans with friends here so that I can plow ahead on assignments. Saying “no” to social events is hard for me—my friends always joke I have a case of “FOMO,” or fear of missing out. In college, I would rarely stay in and watch a TV show alone on a weekend night—I was either doing something with friends or doing homework. I didn’t see an in-between—what would be the point of spending free time alone when I could either be a) out making/strengthening connections or 2) doing something productive? 

That’s not to say I’m the most social person in the world (I’m not!) or that I don’t value alone time (I absolutely need time to decompress). I’m just learning that committing to a one-year program is going to result in postponing some of that fun time with friends outside of the Philly area (at least until winter or spring break!) in order to stay on top of all of the tasks at hand now. I’m thankful that my group of friends in Philly has enjoyed getting together for happy hours and outdoor yoga classes, and I’m glad that there’s so much for me to explore in my own city. As tough as it is not being able to do everything, I remind myself that being in grad school puts me one step closer toward my dream career plans and is supposed to be a fun, challenging process in itself.