Semester In Review

[Mz_Doc]

I searched but didn't find anything along these lines. Basically, I was wondering how all of your semesters went. Did you do or learn something new? How did classes and grades go? For those that are not in school, how have things been going for you in the last couple of months?

Vent, Brag, whatever!

I'll start. My semester went well. I was very focused in my classes and have done well thus far. I'm still waiting to see how I did on my finals. I'm a little nervous about Pysch, but hopefully it went well. I'm proud of myself for branching out of my comfort zone and making friends with new people. Pledging APO was really fun and I can't wait to return in the fall and begin our service projects. Working with Black Student Union has been really fun and we have big things planned for the fall. My roadtrips to Chicago were amazing, although I do feel bad for not tellin mom. LOL. It will be nice to take a break before my summer chemistry class begins. Wish me luck because I will need it!

[Lyoness]

My semester was INTERESTING and LIFE CHANGING to say the least. After a lot of prayer and soul searching I decided to leave my Ph.D. program in April. I was having anxiety attacks and had to mentally prepare get out of the car and deal with some of the professors. It's 2007. Please stop assuming that b/c I am black and have braids or twists that I'm not serious about my work. It's not your business that it takes several hours to do. My advisor is such a blessing and was very supportive and will welcome me back if I so choose. She's Muslim and was a better example of a Christian than some self-proclaimed Christians... but I digress. We're all God's children.

I grew up alot and realized that life is way too short. My beloved cousin (30) died suddenly of a heart attack while on vacation in February. That really opened my eyes and solidified my decision to make a move. Dialysis be damned, she was going to live her life to the fullest.


I'll be switching to a Master's Degree program in the Fall. It's more tailored to my career goals than the Ph.D. was. God is so good. Along the way, I got my DREAM JOB in the industry I ultimately want to work in and it perfectly compliments my master's degree. I have the full support of my advisor who also has students from this program in her lab too. Yay!!

On the fun side, I visited friends in DC and may be going to the Taste in the summer. I am so grateful to GOD that I have the supportive mother and friends that I have b/c I was seriously going through some stuff.

[delph998]

Originally Posted by Lyoness

My semester was INTERESTING and LIFE CHANGING to say the least. After a lot of prayer and soul searching I decided to leave my Ph.D. program in April. I was having anxiety attacks and had to mentally prepare get out of the car and deal with some of the professors. It's 2007. Please stop assuming that b/c I am black and have braids or twists that I'm not serious about my work. It's not your business that it takes several hours to do. My advisor is such a blessing and was very supportive and will welcome me back if I so choose. She's Muslim and was a better example of a Christian than some self-proclaimed Christians... but I digress. We're all God's children.

I grew up alot and realized that life is way too short. My beloved cousin (30) died suddenly of a heart attack while on vacation in February. That really opened my eyes and solidified my decision to make a move. Dialysis be damned, she was going to live her life to the fullest.


I'll be switching to a Master's Degree program in the Fall. It's more tailored to my career goals than the Ph.D. was. God is so good. Along the way, I got my DREAM JOB in the industry I ultimately want to work in and it perfectly compliments my master's degree. I have the full support of my advisor who also has students from this program in her lab too. Yay!!

On the fun side, I visited friends in DC and may be going to the Taste in the summer. I am so grateful to GOD that I have the supportive mother and friends that I have b/c I was seriously going through some stuff.

That was a beautiful testimony Soror! Doesn't God have a way of putting things in order when we think they already are? I needed to hear that.

[Lyoness]

Originally Posted by delph998

That was a beautiful testimony Soror! Doesn't God have a way of putting things in order when we think they already are? I needed to hear that.

I'm glad!!! That was why I posted it. Just want everyone to know that God WORKS and puts things in order. When you feel like you're at your lowest, God is making moves. I feel like Shug Avery in The Color Purple. "I feels like singing!!"

[neosoul]

my semester was... interesting... my Health Care Reimbursement class was dragging me under and it seemed I was the only one in my group who spoke English and NOT gibberish...I felt like I was going to drop out everyday because I had never been this stressed before in my life..and then the teacher went on bed rest and things kinda eased up... my writing class sucked can't believe you STILL have to take those at a post graduate level... all in all I'm glad its over, got a 3.something, and the countdown has begun to the end of the program: 210 days!

[Lyoness]

Originally Posted by neosoul

my semester was... interesting... my Health Care Reimbursement class was dragging me under and it seemed I was the only one in my group who spoke English and NOT gibberish...I felt like I was going to drop out everyday because I had never been this stressed before in my life..and then the teacher went on bed rest and things kinda eased up... my writing class sucked can't believe you STILL have to take those at a post graduate level... all in all I'm glad its over, got a 3.something, and the countdown has begun to the end of the program: 210 days!

210 Days to go!!! It'll be over before you know it. My bff has a countdown for 750days until she graduates from professional school.

[dzdst796]

Originally Posted by Lyoness

My semester was INTERESTING and LIFE CHANGING to say the least. After a lot of prayer and soul searching I decided to leave my Ph.D. program in April. I was having anxiety attacks and had to mentally prepare get out of the car and deal with some of the professors. It's 2007. Please stop assuming that b/c I am black and have braids or twists that I'm not serious about my work. It's not your business that it takes several hours to do. My advisor is such a blessing and was very supportive and will welcome me back if I so choose. She's Muslim and was a better example of a Christian than some self-proclaimed Christians... but I digress. We're all God's children.

I grew up alot and realized that life is way too short. My beloved cousin (30) died suddenly of a heart attack while on vacation in February. That really opened my eyes and solidified my decision to make a move. Dialysis be damned, she was going to live her life to the fullest.


I'll be switching to a Master's Degree program in the Fall. It's more tailored to my career goals than the Ph.D. was. God is so good. Along the way, I got my DREAM JOB in the industry I ultimately want to work in and it perfectly compliments my master's degree. I have the full support of my advisor who also has students from this program in her lab too. Yay!!

On the fun side, I visited friends in DC and may be going to the Taste in the summer. I am so grateful to GOD that I have the supportive mother and friends that I have b/c I was seriously going through some stuff.

I was feeling some kind of way about a situation that I think is important, but when I read this I realized it was not that serious. I applaud your courage and wish you the best of luck.

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally Posted by Lyoness

Please stop assuming that b/c I am black and have braids or twists that I'm not serious about my work. It's not your business that it takes several hours to do.

There is A LOT of this thinking in the law. In fact, one lady even told me to straighten my hair if I ever wanted to get anywhere. *insert blank stare* I'd just as soon open my own firm before I let someone at some other firm dictate what I do with MY hair.

My whole first year was trying times and crazy professors. I entertained the thought of dropping out several times. However, I knew that that wouldn't make me happy in the long run. The second year was filled with more trials and more tribulations. The anxiety attacks started recently when I realized that I am a SENIOR and will have to face the bar in near future! However, it's doable and it has been done by so many before me.

I've been checking for my grades and I only have two out of eight up so far. I did get an A in my Trial Advocacy class after I kindly got my SHINE ON!! I'd be a beast in the courtroom!! Right now, I don't wat to do trial work, but it appeals to me more and more each day.

Hoepfully I can get all of my grades soon so that I can fine tune my masterplan. It's about time I get it narrowed down.

360 more days for me!

[Lyoness]

Originally Posted by dzdst796

I was feeling some kind of way about a situation that I think is important, but when I read this I realized it was not that serious. I applaud your courage and wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for that.

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

There is A LOT of this thinking in the law. In fact, one lady even told me to straighten my hair if I ever wanted to get anywhere. *insert blank stare* I'd just as soon open my own firm before I let someone at some other firm dictate what I do with MY hair.

My whole first year was trying times and crazy professors. I entertained the thought of dropping out several times. However, I knew that that wouldn't make me happy in the long run. The second year was filled with more trials and more tribulations. The anxiety attacks started recently when I realized that I am a SENIOR and will have to face the bar in near future! However, it's doable and it has been done by so many before me.

360 more days for me!

Congrats to you!!! You can do it!!! A couple of my LSs just graduated this past weekend from Law School. Where does the time go?
Hopefully my post doesn't make me come off like a complaining drop out. The main thing I got out of this experience is that the blessing (in my case) wasn't necessarily the program for it's own sake but it got me out of my dead end home town (where dreams go to die & away from nonsupportive extended family) and job that was being downsized and it got me to a place with more opportunities for ppl in my profession.
I really struggled with leaving my program. Ultimately I had to force myself to live for myself and not for what parents and others thought was the best path for me. When parents help you through school, it's hard to break away w/o incurring their wrath.

About the braids... we are so there on the blank stare thing. i'm used to the usual "how long does it take" but when you make it a point to seek me out and corner me in the coffee room and just have this total look of disdain, and the comments "how do you study, when you get your hair done?"... that irks me and the look of relief on ppls faces when i took my hair down. sigh... it's 2007, get it together

[RedefinedDiva]

I don't think you are a whiny dropout. I think that sometimes you have to enter and go through a situation to determine whether or not it's for you. Once you determined that that particular program wasn't for you, you had to move on. You have to make the right decisions for your life.

My hair takes NO TIME flat to do because I only wear puffs. (I'm working on an upgrade! ) That's the easiest style for me and it's that traditional, pulled back thing that seems to work for women with long hair. I haven't straightened in eons. I usually straighten when I want to straighten, not because I'm feeling corporate pressure. That's for the birds.

As for the time, I have NO idea where it went. I can remember the day I got my acceptance letter. I remember starting the pre-law program. I remember my first day of school. I remember my first set of finals. Now, here I am on the eve of my last two sememsters. It's almost unbelievable! All I can say is wow.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I don't think you are a whiny dropout. I think that sometimes you have to enter and go through a situation to determine whether or not it's for you. Once you determined that that particular program wasn't for you, you had to move on. You have to make the right decisions for your life.

I definitely agree! Soror Lyoness, you have to do what is right for you and don't feel bad because of it!

I began my THIRD graduate program this semester. My first program, I realized after 5 classes, was too narrowly focused. My second one, I settled for a Masters Certificate (again 5 classes) because I knew that I would be relocating halfway through the master's program and that the credits would not transfer.

So I truly believe that I have now found the program for me because it offers the right mix of financial incentives, coursework and business/career opportunities.