Class Is In Session

Hello, All,

I have recently made the decision (semi-forced because of approaching deadlines) to take a gap year before applying to graduate school. The reason why this is relevant to TPC and the APS Museum will make sense soon.

Last year I was in a semester long program that was the scholarly parallel of TPC: it was a test run for students who were considering graduate school rather than immediate careers/forays into the "real world." Although I struggled with the deadlines for writing papers, I felt confident that I was excited for graduate school. But when I got back to campus for my junior year I saw my friends applying (and accepting) programs to do research or teach abroad and to do other exciting, challenging adventures. I remember adamantly believing that I would break with my father's wishes and enroll in a similar program, but here I am applying to graduate programs...

Now that I am one week away from my first GRE and less than a month away from my first grad school application deadline, I am (in typical Natasha style) realizing that I am procrastinating and stalling for a reason. This is where my story becomes relevant :)

TPC has stressed that the world is a challenging and worthwhile classroom to explore; the APS Museum has modeled how academics can find engaging careers outside of the ivory tower. When I think about my life as a set of courses, I notice that I am barely managing passing grades in "Time Management" and "Work Environment." I value being a well-rounded person; maybe this is the only chance in my life that I will have to "study" for and "pass" these courses?

This is an announcement to myself that I am willing to take on the challenge of re-invigoration. I want to find a way to re-invent what I thought was my "for-sure" future as an English Major. Now I sound a bit like Obama. These are broad declarations of Change I Can Hope For but what I can pragmatically believe in are these next few days of stress and fear. I don't think I'll go back on this decision but I am very grateful for the advice and support of the staff at both TPC and the APS Museum. I already have some employment leads that may lead to a more genuine future grad school application.

Don't really know how relevant this post is, but it's what's going on right now :)