“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” — Oprah Winfrey
Over a month ago I wrote a post titled “Is Graduate School Worth It?” where I summarized and reflected on the most frustrating parts of my graduate school journey. In this grand quest to obtain my master’s, pass the licensure exams, and start my career as a full-fledged professional counselor I have experienced myriad trials and discovered priceless treasures.
I have lived a life I could not imagine back in my rectangle of an apartment in Iowa where I typed away on a Walmart TV dinner tray researching programs, housing, and where to get good food.
1. I Learned to Value True Community
I am drawn towards people. Even though I swore I would never join a club again, I applied to be Vice President of the Black Student Association. I joined the PRISM (lgbtqia+ club) and began attending a weekly study group.
Even though I am now certain there are more cost-of-living friendly programs, I do hold pride in the fact that the faculty and staff at my university truly do care about students.
There are exceptions, of course, and so I hold even more pride in the fact that we students have created a community of our own to support one another as we navigate unpaid internships, rising tuition costs, and all the beautiful and tragic things that come with being human.
2. My Professional Writing Has Improved
At my core, I enjoy being a student, I love to learn and have access to books and research articles on psychological theories and the efficacy of different treatment modalities. I can write in APA format with ease, yet I now struggle to remember my original writing style.
I morphed my preferences and habits into a format that aims to show no bias. I cannot help myself, my personality still shines through (in my own way), and I hope to find more of a middle ground in the future for my writing.
This blog, the Substack (@theunrulyjoyclub) I recently created are my starting points.
3. I am Prepared to Enter the Field
The whole point of a graduate program is to prepare you to enter the profession of your choosing. Will I credit my growth to my school 100%? Absolutely not.
Instead, I will attribute the demolition of my overly optimistic expectations. I had to start over and rebuild the foundation of my ambitions and aspirations day by day, and brick by brick.
To call myself a therapist I must stand firmly on solid ground, and establish realistic, flexible expectations. I strive to be patient with myself, develop healthy boundaries, and define my values. This process of finding my bearings, living in the present, and envisioning a hopeful future has become my main coping strategy.
Without the spectrum of experiences, ranging from life-changing (positive) to life-changing (negative), I do not believe I would be ready to see clients. I am very grateful to the woman I have become and to the people who continue to support me on this journey.
Lingering Thoughts
I intend to keep both the pessimistic-realistic post (Is Graduate School Worth It?) and this optimistic-realistic post on this blog, because at the time of my writing them, they are my truths.
The therapy profession has a high turnover rate, and I understand that many tenured professionals have a “tough love” approach as a way to be gatekeepers of the profession. This does not change the fact that the frustrations of students and young professionals are valid. Especially since most of my gripe is about the costs of higher education.
Issues are not resolved by simply remaining silent. Certainly not in this field where we must advocate for our clients, ourselves, and one another.
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