Category Archives: Graduate School

I want my balanced life, thank you

"What Life Is Made Of..." by DianePhotos
"What Life Is Made Of..." by DianePhotos

At the start of this year, I was most worried about the decision I’d have to make with the schools that I thought would accept me.  So much fanfare, discussion, and the “Oh God, I just don’t know…what if I get into both schools?! Oh geez…I wouldn’t know what to decide.”

Well, yesterday, the decision was basically made for me.  I was–anticlimactically–only admitted to one.

As of Fall of 2011, I will be going for my second Bachelors in Chemistry.  A nice compliment to the bachelors I already have in Physics…or so I’m trying to convince myself.

But a gigantic “you failed” is still blaring in my mind.  I did not get into the Masters Bioengineering program that I had been pining and praying for. So much for the sacrificial lambs, and ritualistic burning of virgins.  (that was supposed to be a joke…really).

Honestly? I’m sad.

And…well, since we’re on the honesty kick here…I don’t even know if my admission standing for my second bach will even remain, if I don’t manage to do amazingly well on my final for my Biochem class.

I suppose I wouldn’t be as worried, if this god awful class that I study for (hours on end, I’d like to add), and still can’t seem to get beyond a failing grade, wasn’t in the way.

But all that stress aside, and the depression I’m beating off with a stick, I have this image in my mind of the kind of life I really want after I finally get through all this mess I call “the residual of my 20’s.” In short, I want a balanced life.

I want to be one of those women that feels in touch with herself, her surroundings, and the people around her, so much so that she exudes peace.

I know…a lofty ambition, but I now know I don’t want to be that in- control, know-it-all anymore. Not sure If I was ever really like that, but it was usually stated by lesser beings (i.e. insecure and rather crappy individuals, that had an ego so large, it was its own singularity).

But I’ve always had this aspiration to take-charge, to know more, do more….to be more, because I just wasn’t doing enough.  In essence, I wasn’t enough of a person. Period.

I know now that this attitude needs to change entirely. I want to feel like I’m just enough, and to have an acceptance of myself that reverberates to every other part of my life.

I want every moment of action to feel like a meditative act.

I don’t want to be a fighter anymore.  I just want to live.

All this “I won’t give up!” and “I’m gonna kick some ass!” is, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed…the manic trying to gain control of her life.

But is life really supposed to be this hard?  Does everything have to be so agonizing, and require so much impossible effort?

Why can’t I just enjoy my life for what it is?

There are some women who seem so content with just knitting sweaters, and writing blogs.  It’s amazing to me that such a simple way of living, can bring so much happiness and peace in someone’s life.

But I can’t seem to just do that.  I feel my brain is near atrophy when I’m not doing something that pushes my mental abilities to the very brink.

I need challenge! I crave it! I search out for it, hunt it down…or go so far as to create it. It is the unrelenting drive to always do more, because, well…I have to prove it (whatever the hell it is) to myself and to the others around me.

But, I’ve finally come to this conclusion: I don’t want that life anymore. It’s brought me a lot of sadness, and misery.  I want to just wake up, get my day started, and just live my life, enjoying the moments, working a job I enjoy, with people I’ve formed close bonds with. It’s more than just achieving anymore…

I want my life to be full of love, tranquility, and balance in every possible way.

I want to enjoy the view for a little while, instead of quickly run past it, without its due acknowledgment.

Yeah, I know life has a lot of responsibilities, and we don’t always have the time to stop and smell the roses…but what are we really living for? What’s life, if it’s not the amalgamation of all the experiences you have throughout your lifetime?

Career will come, yes, and I’m sure I’ll work some job, doing something important, and hopefully thoroughly enjoying it, while being quite good at it (yeah, well, a girl can dream…or at least aspire to).

I want my life to be full and balanced.  I want it all, but I don’t mind it being (or coming to me) in measured doses.

In other words, I want the husband (which my stubborn southern will most definitely oblige to), and the family….if that only means one child, I will be happy with that.

I want a career, and hopefully a Phd (DO/MD…who knows) that leads to that career, and I don’t mind taking the time out to get to that point, but at the same time, vacationing…living it up (so to speak), and enjoying my short 100 year existence in the process.

I don’t want to be frantic, or running around, trying to achieve something for the sake of achieving it (did that for too long).  The achievement should be in the very being of it.  In other words, I do it, I work at it, and it naturally becomes…so to speak.

I want to take better care of my appearance, and not dress in the same old and drab black shirt, jeans, and mussied up afro I call my hair. I want to wear long flowing skirts and dresses, and be feminine….but of course, to ge to that point, I want to also lose weight and BE HEALTHY.

What I’m driving at here is this: I want my balanced life (as opposed to wanting my life balanced–huge distinction here).  I want to enjoy my life. I want more good than bad…tip the scales in my favor.  And while I’m sure my metaphors aren’t matching here, I at least know that balance does not mean to do good and bad.  It just means to live life sensibly, without madness, chaos, or massive dose whoop ass to get through the day.  Zen life…with a twist 🙂

Let my fury fuel my drive!

Today I got a good helping of humble pie,  followed by a gigantic dose of WTF!?!

I am currently in the midst of trying to get into  graduate school.

OK, truth time: I have a very challenged (for  lack of a better term) undergraduate GPA, and  while I may have earned a Physics degree, it in  no ways guarantees that I have the brains to  back up the paper, so to speak…it (the big IT)  has held me back from continuing on into my  studies.  Remember when I said that science is  essentially the cornerstone of my life?  Getting  into graduate to school has therefore been the bane of my existence.

But this is all too much to explain.  Far too much…so much so, that I will refrain from divulging the details.  I will say, however, this includes illness, and a battle with a neurodegenerative disorder that I recently have nearly demolished.  But as I’ve said…too much, for now.

So, continuing on with my story…as an attempt to show good favor to the Bioengineering graduate departments that I’m applying to, I decided to re-take the second quarter of Biochemistry.  I had taken it the first time…and well, no fireworks, and certainly no A.  But this time would be different.  This time…I’d be smarter (literally).

Heh. Didn’t quite work out that way.

First midterm of the quarter, I study till I’m practically throwing up Citrus acid cycles, Pyruvate dehydrogenases, and Beta oxidateion pathways.  I knew the material so well, that I was practically teaching it to the students in my class!

But, I get that midterm, and my heart sinks…to a pre-computed 60 points. In other words, I knew what I would get right on the exam.  Or so I thought.

My heart sinks again–to the earth’s core—when I see I didn’t even make the average! A measly (F*****)  45 points! Are you F***** kidding me!?!

For a split pico-second, I get depressed.  And then I get so angry that my nostrils are literally flaring, and I’m about ready to punch something…more specifically, the TA’s that graded the exams.

In short. I. AM. LIVID!

How the hell could I have gotten such a low score? Are the TA’s mentally amputated? Do I need to sue the school? Do I need to hire a hit man? Do I need to raise my fist to God and threaten to never pray to him again? Even as I type this…I’M MAD!

So mad, that it’s only fueled my drive.  Will I still raise hell with the professors and TA’s? As my old, and much missed friend Alennie used to say “Hell to the FUCKING ya!”

I will be the thorn in their side.  The fly in their soup.  The hair in their burger.  The can of WHOP ASS in their…umm…ass! (whatever…can you do better? I don’t think you need to challenge me in a time like this.  I got people that know people  >< Grr!!)

I will strangle that A out of that class, oh yes I will.

IT. IS. ON.

Bring it!!!!