Back to School #InTheMiddleOfAPandemic

A new year brings with it a new semester. After FIVE WEEKS OF FREEDOM … it’s #backtoschool. This is semester #4 for me. 

In 2019, I started a new job in February and the first semester of my PhD program began that August. Three classes, all on campus ‒ including one on a FRIDAY at noon 😐 ‒ was challenging but I found my groove and got through it. 

Spring 2020 kicked off with only 2 classes for me, also on campus. 

Then … COVID. 

The good news: One extra week of spring break. 

The other news: Everything moved online. 

I prefer in-class settings because I am an active learner so I was seriously concerned about my ability to learn in an online setting. I even told my Plan of Study committee (the folks who will develop my comps questions) that I wasn’t sure if I would continue in the program beyond the spring if everything would remain online. However, I adjusted and still earned a 4.0. #Lit 

I said #HellNo to summer classes and ate my way through a pandemic + found creative ways to kick it now that all of my summer trips were now kaput. 

#NoRegrets: I had an AWESOME summer, even in the midst of COVID. And I am grateful. 

Fall 2020 was a game-changer: All of my classes were online and would be synchronous. So, I took a risk: I enrolled in 3 classes. Three intense classes. 

God has a way of working things out. Let’s just say the risk paid off! I have an infamous dry erase board which you can check on my highlights here and I literally shed tears once I wiped it clean at the end of the semester. Now, here I am, ready for MY LAST YEAR OF COURSEWORK. I’m proud of myself. This isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. S/O to all of the GSU Communication students – #WeGotThis. 

Let’s Do This: Do you have aspirations of earning an advanced degree? What challenges have you faced when starting a new job? Have you ever juggled work AND school? Let me know in the comments.