Next!

I have no idea what happened to the previous two years. In between stacks of journal articles, making sense of complex (and often convoluted) research, feelings of overwhelming dread and panic writing papers late into the night, and piecing together what would eventually become my thesis, it was easy to lose track of time. Along with the demands of teaching public speaking, I always had plenty to do. Looking at my ‘to do’ list was always a soul-crushing experience.

Not that there wasn’t any fun had along the way. Me and the other grad students in the communication department bonded because of the plain and simple fact that we all faced the same gargantuan tasks. Instead of the unhealthy competitiveness one hears about going on in other graduate programs, we all propped each other up. We were a team of extraordinary people, united to accomplish the common good (like the Justice League).

Now, it’s almost over. In two days I will defend my master’s thesis, and pending my committee’s approval, I’ll earn my master’s degree and move on to the next chapter of my life. It’s difficult to imagine myself finally leaving Blacksburg. I’ve lived here for six years; four years for undergrad, then a year-long intermission, then finally two years for grad school. I’ll certainly miss this town, and I hope to come visit often.

So about what’s next…you know that first part of this post about how stressful graduate school is? The anguish? The despair? The nights when you run on coffee and/or Red Bull to get that paper just right? Well, I must be a glutton for punishment. I’ve decided to pursue my Ph.D. in communication at the University of Florida. I’ll be moving there later this summer (speaking of which, anyone have a room to rent in Gainesville?).

So that’s where I’m headed next. It’s been fun, Blacksburg, but it’s time for me to move on.