The Bittersweet Experience of Completing Graduate School

1479 Words3 Pages

Successful completion of graduate school is a momentous and joyous occasion. It is the moment a graduate student has been working towards throughout graduate school. What is important to remember is not all individuals who start graduate school will successfully complete their degree program. Individuals that are successful know how much work and effort was needed to graduate. Graduate students make personal sacrifices to continue their education. Attending graduate school comes with a high price. Students must commit huge chunks of time to school assignments. Graduate students sacrifice personal time as well as time spent with family and friends. Moreover, there is the monetary cost of attending graduate school. After paying such a high price and losing out on quality time, students want to successfully graduate. However, completing graduate school can have a bitter sweet ending. Working hard for an extended period of time and reaching one’s goal can have negative effects.

Students are working non-stop to complete assignments, adhere to expectations and reach their set goals. Graduate school can be very stressful. Many graduate students have responsibilities to work, school and family. Students will have some low points during their education when coping with stress becomes a challenge. Getting past the low points shows how committed a student is to their education. Graduate students spend so much time meeting deadlines and due dates as well as working hard to meet the expectations of fellow students and professors. A graduate student’s life ends up falling into a routine that is dominated by educational requirements. Completion of graduate school should be a positive experience, but it is accompanied by emotion...

... middle of paper ...

...arth, D. F. (2011). Graduation Blues. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-couch/201105/graduation-blues

Kuther, T. (2011). Feel the Graduation Blues? Retrieved from http://gradschool.about.com/cs/survival/a/gradblues.htm

Rossman, M. H. (2002). Negotiating Graduate School, Second Edition: A Guide for Graduate Students. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications, Inc.

References:

Ackerman, G. (2011) Slideshow Unit 6, University of Everest Online, 22 May 2011.

Barth, D. F. (2011). Graduation Blues. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-couch/201105/graduation-blues

Kuther, T. (2011). Feel the Graduation Blues? Retrieved from http://gradschool.about.com/cs/survival/a/gradblues.htm

Rossman, M. H. (2002). Negotiating Graduate School, Second Edition: A Guide for Graduate Students. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications, Inc.

Open Document