I was just thinking about when I was an undergrad. I went to college most days and worked most evenings, yet I was still able to get my homework done and not be tired all the time. Then I thought about it some more. I went straight from high school to college; I was only 22 when I graduated with my B.S. And my work schedule was much different. During my first two years of college, I worked on campus, often during long breaks between classes, or after my classes were finished. I also worked weekends as the hostess at a restaurant. Between the two jobs, I almost worked full-time hours while I was taking 12-13 hours per semester. After I transferred to complete the upper division classes, I was working one part-time job, mostly in the evenings, but I was easily able to work around my class schedule. I lived at home with my parents and sisters. I had very little financial responsibility.
My life as a grad student is quite different. I work a full-time job and have bills to pay. My work schedule is not very flexible. I'm a substance abuse counselor for an intensive outpatient treatment program. For the past year, I have worked three 10 hour days per week, ending at 9:00 pm (approximately, anyway!); my other 10 hours were spread out over two days. Since I have two evening classes this semester, I now only work two 10 hour days, spreading my other 20 hours over three days, two of which end early due to my classes. I still don't get home until after 9 pm three nights a week. (This week it was four nights because I chose to do something else instead of coming straight home Tuesday night.) It's pretty hard to get a lot done during the week, which means most of my reading and studying must happen on the weekends. I mean, I'm still reading the same article I started reading Tuesday for my web class.
Is there ever really a perfect time to continue your education? I seriously doubt it. After this semester, I'll decide if I'll be a full-time or part-time grad student next year. All summer, I kept thinking how much easier this would all be if I were teaching instead of counseling. I'm not so sure I was right. During the summer, yes. If I weren't working during the summer, then it would be easier to complete two classes per summer semester. Listening to my teacher classmates Monday and Tuesday night, I decided that they probably don't have much of an advantage over me, if any. And many of them are parents. I think they definitely have a harder time than I do getting everything done. The thought "If I would've just gone into education in the first place, I wouldn't be in this situation now" creeps into my head. One thing I've learned in the 23 years since I graduated high school is that I wasn't ready then. Now I'm ready. That wasn't my time; this is. God knew exactly what I was going to do before I was ever even born. Right now, I am exactly where He wants me to be. Or, at least, I'm working on it.
