Well, kids, you may remember that awhile ago, I asked several burning questions regarding grad school. I have since discovered the answers to those questions.
1) Will there be parking? Yes, and while it is not clearly marked, it is pretty much right in front of the building. They confused me by saying it was in back of the building, but that's because the school shares the building. This is a satellite location. I go early and sit in the classroom for awhile, but that's OK. I have lots to do.
2) Will I look dumb? Probably, but that is nothing new. And, to be frank, I never cared before, and I am probably not going to in another week or two now, either. I will say that everybody there, minus three people including myself, were dressed in dress clothes for work. We have all but one since changed our tunes. Tonight, though, I will be wearing blue jeans. Because I can.
3) Do grad students use backpacks? Because I bought one and took the tags off already. Yes, but only the boys in my class have them besides me. I don't care. It doesn't hurt my back, and I like that.
4) Will I get a good grade? Yes. I did, in fact, get an A on my first assignment. In addition, I was told that it was very well-written. And there was much rejoicing. Yay!
5) Will I (please, God) be able to find the room/building? Yes. There were people on every floor stationed at every door into the campus and at every stairwell. They were eager to answer questions, even if they didn't always know the answer (i.e., the parking conversation).
On the whole, I am not sure I am in the right program. I really have always wanted to get an MFA. I keep trying to pretend that I can be content with something else, but I don't think that's true. I really want to get an MFA in writing. As I have said a lot lately, "Why is everything I want expensive and useless?" Ah, well. I'm just trying it out. If I don't like it, I can always quit. I don't actually "belong" to anybody's program, yet. Also, the people are not very talkative, and that always makes it awkward for me. If I'm with quiet people, I start trying to fill the empty space with something. Then I wind up babbling and saying things I don't mean. So far, I have avoided this, but mostly because they stare at me like I'm insane every time I open my mouth.
Posted by LoWriter at September 13, 2006 02:50 PMI'd like to take this moment to point out that you kick grad school ass.
Fact.
Ahhh, thanks! :)
Posted by: Lo at September 14, 2006 10:37 AMMaybe they are insane and that is why they stare 'you mean you can speak words and not just write them down? what a new concept!' hehe...
I say follow your heart, it's done you pretty good until this point and if you really want an MFA and the feeling doesn't go away and you don't want to do this program - I say go for it. Then maybe you can teach at Bethel and kick some major butt there - or teach somewhere else you wanna teach, I am sure Bethel is not the holy grail of teaching positions. But either way I am all for making yourself happy!