One year down . . .

Josh and I finished our first year of graduate school last week.  It's been an interesting year.  The experience has definitely been a lot better than the last time I was in school (the fateful MPH at Loma Linda that wasn't really a master's program).  But there have been aspects that I think we both wish would have been a bit different.  During our first semester, I was having a hard time getting to know some of the people in my program.  We're all introverts over here and I just needed to spend some time hanging out with folks before I could feel like there really was nothing wrong with me.  I struggled with feeling like I knew what I doing because in all honesty, I didn't know what I was doing. Meanwhile Josh became friends with a group from his cohort, whom he spent hours with while preparing this massive project for one of his classes.  Second semester was very different.  I finally started getting a handle on what I was studying, got my foot into some research for my program, got more involved with the grad student group for Forestry students, and got a decent job with the forest service.  Josh stressed about getting his thesis prospectus in and signed on time, got a decent job with the National Park Service, and toned down some of his course work (only slightly though depending on the week).  One thing that has been a dint has been the apparent betrayal by one particular person we thought was a friend of ours.  We went from going out on a regular basis with her to being the target for her apparent dissatisfaction with her degree program.  She took alot out on Josh for no justifiable reason and pissed me off with her immature and elitist behavior.  She ruined the time not only for us but for others in the Anthropology program as well.  In the end I kind of wish her luck, because she's going to need it in the future.  With her attitude and apparent lack of sensitivity, I really doubt anyone will want to collaborate or help her in the next semester.  All in all, I'm really done with people who think their intellect makes it okay for them to trash others or that their apparent status in life is a free pass to make others feel like less than who they are.  Here's hoping the good things from this year continue into the next and the drama will subside because we're not drama people.  With a new cohort coming in, we're hoping the focus switches to the next crowd.  We've got one year left, and we're hoping things go a bit smoother. 

Comments

[Richard]

First, congratulation on the completion of your first year. To say I'm proud of you guys is an understatement.

As to the betrayal of Josh's cohort, from my experiences as a 30 y.o. nursing student with a group of classmates that probably averaged 21 and all female, I'm wondering if there may have been some jealousy of this great couple (you guys). Maggie always thought that some "20 year old honey wanted me" (wishful thinking on my part?). Josh, being a little closer in age to his classmates, might have found a woman who recognized what a great guy he is and, perhaps, that's what this was all about. She lashed out on something unrelated to the "real" issue to hurt him and, in turn, hurt you. Or is it just my male vanity?

I have no doubt of your continued great success and wonderful experiences.

And wish Noah a Happy Birthday for me. I'm sure he remembers me. Just tell him... the old guy with the beard.

Love,
Richard

Just a thought on a bumper sticker for forestry. "Forestry -- as exciting as watching a tree grow." A takeoff on an old Don Rickle's joke.

[Sabrina]

I don't think it was a male/female thing. From what I understand she felt like the program was beneath her intellect. As she grew more frustrated with it, she started to take things out on him, making him the target of her disdain from what she perceived to be an intellectual failure of those around her. A lot of it stems from her brash judgements of people before actually getting to know them. She's made them about Josh and about others in the program and I believe they are way off base and based solely on superficial things than actual character assessments. Either way she's digging herself into a bigger ditch with her classmates and few people trust her let alone want to be close friends with her.