The reaction is basically the same, “What!? You aren’t
planning on going to graduate school next year?” When I break the news that my
plans have changed the first reaction tends to be the same, surprise. Then
there is a wealth of second reactions, ranging from the popular, “You’re never
going to go back” to the also popular, “What are you going to do for a year
before you do go?”
It is probably my fault that these are the reactions I have
gotten. For the past two years I have said over and over that I was headed to
graduate school to study primates. But I had an eye opening experience in
Indonesia and I want to make sure I will be happy going to grad school and more
importantly happy with the career I end up with after. If not, what is the
point?
Let me drive this point home, if the reason I go to grad
school is because that is seen as the obvious next step after undergrad and
there isn’t a better reason like, it will help me get a job I want, then I
don’t see a reason to go now. School is tough; I am a perfectionist so anything
less than 4.0 doesn’t satisfy me.
Although when I want something I don’t mind working hard for it. But
when I don’t care about a subject, like chemistry, it is painful to drag myself
through the material. So it seems clear to me that if in this time I am taking
off I find a good reason to go to grad school then I will go and I am certain I
will do an amazing job. If I don’t happen to find a good reason to go and I
just go because that is “the next step” I see myself being unhappy as I drag
myself through the years it will take to finish. In the later scenario if I don’t
have a reason to attend more schooling then what will be the big difference
when I am done if I don’t need it for a particular job that I want, yes I will
be qualified for more jobs but ones I don’t want to do…does that make sense?
