My last college course was the Summer of 2015.  Since then, I feel like I have lost my grip on education.  It is crazy how differently you use your brain when you are in school.  You can think more critically, you approach problems in different ways, and you are used to questions that are meant to try and trick you.

Recently, when I have conversations with colleagues, I realize how out of the game I am.  Especially as they begin talking about research with qualitative and quantitative data.  I don’t have much experience with research, as both my Bachelor’s and Master’s were more about application in careers than actually collecting and analyzing data.  It is important to me to be able to discuss, participate, and apply conversations in my career with my colleagues.  This feeling combined with my goal-setting ambition, has led to my decision to obtain my Doctorate and apply next year.

This brings me back to my lost education mind.  The GRE is in my future.  I have never been a good test-taker.  In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit that I scored a 23 on the ACT.  I try not to dwell on it, since I received a 3.94 GPA in my Bachelor’s and a 3.96 in my Master’s, but it is hard.  Today I took a practice GRE test, and oh boy.  It was bad.  Luckily, vocabulary wasn’t too bad, but those mathematic questions!?  I am good at math, but the way they are worded are tricky.  It is time to buckle down and start practicing those GRE problems with books, vocabulary flash cards, and lots and lots of practice quizzes.  Wish me luck.

2018 was a pretty tough year.  I didn’t feel as if I had direction and I mostly felt like I was in survival mode.  Since deciding to pursue my doctorate, I am hoping 2019 becomes the year of chasing new dreams.