The Regalia Has Arrived!
My husband, Bear, gave me a surprise last night. It seems a package arrived in the mail:
Don't get me wrong. I ordered it on Monday. I was just so surprised we got it yesterday considering it was shipped ground.
What is it? That, my friend, is my hood for my Masters in Social Work along with the tassel that would've gone on my cap if I was actually attending graduation this year.
Yes, I am finally graduating from Big State University with yet another Masters degree. This is an important one though as it signals a possible career change for me, once I finally get my damn license. I am hoping that the third time is the charm.
I decided to go for this degree as I was frustrated. I teach sociology at the community college level, which I love doing. However, I always felt like I was more preaching than doing. After talking with a colleague, she suggested I look into social work. So I did and here I am three years later.
It has been an interesting journey, that's for sure. I was hoping that I could learn more and take my knowledge to change the world. However, my health and a few family crises gave me a number of speed bumps along the way. Plus the program I am in left a lot to be desired. However, I am going to finish it. I just have to make it through one more month with a few more papers and I will have the degree in hand.
Was it worth it? Part of me says yes. I now have the capability of getting a position as a social worker once I pass the state licensing exam, which could bring in more money, and I can do some good. This is what I wanted, right?
Maybe not.
I hate saying this but this was the worst grad program I had ever been in. The coursework was a joke for the most part. As this is my third Masters, I have experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly. This was just bad. One class I took last semester felt like a 100-level course and it was supposed to be an advanced graduate-level course! Do I feel ready to be a social worker? If it wasn't for my ability to do extra research and go "above and beyond," I doubt it.
Also, I don't know if I want to be a social worker now. I know, it's a little late to be saying this. I love the work and I still want to bring about positive change. However, my experience in my clinical year placements made me wonder if this is something I really wanted to do. I came across good people but they were so burned out by the conditions they were working in that they stopped caring about the people they were trying to help. It was just a "job" to them and they went through the motions. The passion to change, though, was gone. I don't want to be that type of person.
What am I going to do? That is the question. At least I have time to think on it. I am having hip replacement surgery once the semester is over, which is why I am not walking at graduation (I still wanted my hood dammit). Plus, I am waiting for approval from the state to take the licensing exam and I'll have to wait even longer to get the license after I pass it. This means, I probably won't be looking for work until the end of the year. I will still give the field a try as I may find the right placement where I can do the work I love--like I had in my first year placement--so I am not ruling it out yet.
But there is a little tiny voice saying "you're not done with school yet." My ultimate dream is to get my PhD. My problem? I don't know what field to get it in yet. I have a lot to think about on this.
Until then, I need to write those papers and get my degree.
What is it? That, my friend, is my hood for my Masters in Social Work along with the tassel that would've gone on my cap if I was actually attending graduation this year.
Yes, I am finally graduating from Big State University with yet another Masters degree. This is an important one though as it signals a possible career change for me, once I finally get my damn license. I am hoping that the third time is the charm.
I decided to go for this degree as I was frustrated. I teach sociology at the community college level, which I love doing. However, I always felt like I was more preaching than doing. After talking with a colleague, she suggested I look into social work. So I did and here I am three years later.
It has been an interesting journey, that's for sure. I was hoping that I could learn more and take my knowledge to change the world. However, my health and a few family crises gave me a number of speed bumps along the way. Plus the program I am in left a lot to be desired. However, I am going to finish it. I just have to make it through one more month with a few more papers and I will have the degree in hand.
Was it worth it? Part of me says yes. I now have the capability of getting a position as a social worker once I pass the state licensing exam, which could bring in more money, and I can do some good. This is what I wanted, right?
Maybe not.
I hate saying this but this was the worst grad program I had ever been in. The coursework was a joke for the most part. As this is my third Masters, I have experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly. This was just bad. One class I took last semester felt like a 100-level course and it was supposed to be an advanced graduate-level course! Do I feel ready to be a social worker? If it wasn't for my ability to do extra research and go "above and beyond," I doubt it.
Also, I don't know if I want to be a social worker now. I know, it's a little late to be saying this. I love the work and I still want to bring about positive change. However, my experience in my clinical year placements made me wonder if this is something I really wanted to do. I came across good people but they were so burned out by the conditions they were working in that they stopped caring about the people they were trying to help. It was just a "job" to them and they went through the motions. The passion to change, though, was gone. I don't want to be that type of person.
What am I going to do? That is the question. At least I have time to think on it. I am having hip replacement surgery once the semester is over, which is why I am not walking at graduation (I still wanted my hood dammit). Plus, I am waiting for approval from the state to take the licensing exam and I'll have to wait even longer to get the license after I pass it. This means, I probably won't be looking for work until the end of the year. I will still give the field a try as I may find the right placement where I can do the work I love--like I had in my first year placement--so I am not ruling it out yet.
But there is a little tiny voice saying "you're not done with school yet." My ultimate dream is to get my PhD. My problem? I don't know what field to get it in yet. I have a lot to think about on this.
Until then, I need to write those papers and get my degree.
Congratulations :)
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