Well, really the title says it all. I was happy with the way my fall semester turned out. Yeah, there were things I could have done better, and things I probably should have done better, but I can't, and won't complain about how everything shook out. I was happy with my grades, relatively happy with all of my finished products, and quite glad I can mark my first semester of graduate school as a success.
However, that being said I know I've found some areas where I can, and should, improve.
For example, I know that I have a very different outlook on life than a lot of my classmates. Part of that is because of where I'm from, part of that is because I was brought up in the church, and part of that is, well, because I consider myself to be a libertarian-esc Reagan Conservative. I don't think any of my classmates can say that about themselves. Therefore, I know I bring a different perspective to the table, a perspective that should be heard more often. I want to make sure I am well read and well educated on the points we discuss in class. I kind of want to rustle some feathers and bring my perspective to the class room in a way that challenges my classmates to think about things in a different light. My goal for the semester is to do that at least once a week. It's certainly possible. I frequently raise my eyebrows three or four times a week, if for no other reason than a conclusion others come to is a complete 180 than the conclusion I come to. I want to find my voice and use it to challenge my classmates, and in turn myself. I think it will be fun!
I can't necessarily speak from experience, but I can guess that being conservative in a field such as student affairs can be extraordinarily challenging, depending on the functional area. I think it will help during my practicum as I work with Student Veterans. Not to say that all veterans are conservative, I know they are not. But many are. However, I feel like working at the Women's Resource and Action Center (WRAC) would be really difficult for me, not because it's a politically charged environment per say, but I know a lot of the extra issues they deal with are going to be influenced by a more liberal agenda. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I don't think it's an environment where I could be at my best.
I'm extremely pumped about my practicum. I still don't really know what it's going to look like, this office has never had a prac student from our program before so I'm blazing new trails, but I am extremely excited because this is an area where I can really see myself enjoying my work. I worry that I won't be able to completely connect with them. I'm not a veteran. No one is my family is a veteran. I have a cousin in the National Guard who is working towards active duty Army and dozens of friends who are active duty, many of whom I have regular contact with. I have done, and am doing, a lot of reading to educate myself as much as I can, but I often wonder if it's enough? I know for this semester it's perfectly adequate. But what about after graduation? What if I want to go into this functional area as a career? Is caring and academic research enough?
Academics, work, and practicum are coming first this semester. I allowed myself to get too distracted last semester with things that I had no control over yet took a lot of my focus. Obviously I got by just fine, but I'm not letting myself have those distractions this time. I'm flying solo and, have every capability of succeeding while flying solo. I have great friends I can lean on, a wonderful cohort, and a family who is supporting me in my endeavors. What more do I need right now? That being said I am striving for perfection. Not absolute perfection, but my personal definition of perfection. When I know I did my best. I know many of us have talked about having to sacrifice quality for quantity, and that's true. And sometimes it is important to say, "You know what? I'm finished with this," and walk away. But I did that prematurely too many times. I'm not doing that again.
This semester is about me. I'm working out (Insanity might kill me), I'm reading up, I'm doing my research to educate myself so I can articulate my own opinions better, I'm eating right, I'm working on my spiritual life, and, most importantly, I'm not looking back.
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