Why In The Hell Did I Go To Grad School? : AN INTERVIEW WITH A GRADUATE STUDENT

When I first started graduate school I had a plan, an active ongoing and successful plan that I was absolutely sure would work. It sounded great and worked even better. I utilize my personal story, my networks, and my skills to succeed just as I had been taught but then suddenly I was finished. I had finally finished this hell of a place called graduate school. I had finally walked the stage that everyone practically goes crazy to make it to and guess what? Instead of feeling the gratification I should have I felt stressed, deprived and as if I had lost apart of me that I really enjoyed having... The truth is this…

Grad school was the worst time of my life. Shocking right? You would think that I've been through worse things in my 24 years of living but nope, graduate school wins. 

How it began... Why did I go? 

The big question is why did I go to graduate school? Well here are two answers that I felt were appropriate: The first answer is what I said in my first ever graduate class when the most qualified professor in my program asked the class why we were there and the second is your normal cliche answer. 

1.) I came to grad school because I'm a black woman in America and to be where I want to be in life I'm going to need more than just a bachelor's degree. 

2.) A master’s degree will put me ahead of the game

Now, that you’ve read both of these well-prepared answers here’s my real answer;

I went to graduate school because there was a fire in me that burned and had driven me to change the world. I wanted to change the world and the people in it with my influence but I also wanted to be in politics. If you truly understand politics you’ll catch why my mentality was cute but not realistic. I wanted to be in congress. Congresswoman Joyner. While I knew exactly what I wanted to do there was a part of me that could do so much more without limiting myself. I’ve known since I was a child that  I could catch the attention of many people just by walking in a room. Whether it be my energy, my smile or just my colorful clothes somehow or someway I would have people staring. With this effect I wanted to change the world because I believe this;

“To change the world you have to affect people's mindsets. Implant the idea & let them claim it as their own.” - Mercedes Joyner

Terms to know:

Grad school: A shortened term for Graduate school.