Favorite moments

[psyentist4good]

I haven't yet started my Ph.D. program, but I will be entering in the fall. I am excited, anxious, and preparing to pace myself throughout what promises to be the academic challenge of a lifetime.

I know there will be woes and stress, but I am interested in hearing some uplifting anecdotes.

What has been your favorite moment so far in graduate school? Was there a moment that just made you feel like you could take on the world? Have you had an accomplishment that made you feel validated and reminded why you chose to go to graduate school in the first place? Have you had any particularly enriching and rewarding experiences?

I'd love to hear about them!

[psych21]

You know? It's mostly the tiny things that make me get that WOW feeling--although there's some big ones too. For example:

-having a great discussion in class

-hitting "print" after finishing a paper that took a lot of effort, reading, and it's about an exciting topic

-reading interesting prof comments on my papers

-sitting in a party having very deep, soul-searching conversations with my cohort

-getting my annual review from my advisor and reading wonderful things like "I wish we could clone her."

-getting first place at a student research gala in a national conference (and after I told my advisor, he emailed the entire department and bragged about it, lol)

-having a professor ask me to write a book chapter + articles together

-meeting a prof in another department, who has similar interests, and discussing possible inter-departmental research studies (and see it happen 3 weeks later)

-being actually excited about all the awesome classes i'll get to take next semester

...you see, it's mostly small things, but they each give me this feeling that I am exactly where I should be and I would not change this for anything.

[hardcrashxyz]

From my first round of graduate school:

1. having a professor tell the other graduate students in class, "Don't worry about hardcrashxyz, he is like a professor." when talking about the curve.

2. the moments wandering from lab to lab making the friday night plans for dinner with other grad. students.

3. realizing that you hadn't just shucked and jived yourself into the position, but have the knowledge and skills.

4. realizing I had become a master gatherer of foodstuffs at seminars and talks.

5. having an "aha" moment synthesizing knowledge from many disparate learning experiences you wondered if would have any real use.

6. that super excited feeling learning some new and fascinating angle.

This nascent round of graduate school:

1. looking at fall class offerings and being excited -or- the "omg, I am interested in more classes and topics than I can possibly take in one semester moment"

2. having funding separate from initial acceptance requiring it's own interviews and being offered a research assistantship.

3. starting to make and execute plans for fall.

Edited April 5, 2011 by hardcrashxyz