Thoughts About Attending Grad School in Your Early 20’s

I recently quit working full-time to get ready to become a full-time student again. The last day of my job is August 12, 2022. I will be attending grad school in the fall. 😬 This next chapter has got me thinking about a few things. Here are the pros, the cons, and everything in between.

Pros

I am really excited to start a new chapter in my career. I’ve been doing so much research on the different career options there are for psychology majors. Even before attending college, I was determined to become a school counselor. After learning about the different options in college, it became overwhelming trying to figure out which branch of psychology I should go into. At the end of the day, I want to help younger people and set them up for success in the future. I also want a career where I’m able to do a variety of things and change things up. With school psychology, I am able to serve students and do various tasks within the role. It seems like the field is a good fit for me.

Cons

On the flip side, I am nervous about going back into the student mindset and attempting to balance work, school, and life. For this past year, I’ve been focusing on balancing work and personal life; now, I have to go back to juggling multiple things at once. It’s been over one year since I’ve been a student, so going back into “school mode” can be overwhelming.

In addition, I have to say “goodbye” to the company I’ve worked at for the past three years. This past year, I went in as a full-time worker and met many amazing people! My co-workers are great! I’m not great at saying “goodbye” because I just get so attached to people. 😢

Everything In-Between

I don’t know if it’s because I’m an overthinker or what, but there’s also a small, tiny part of me that wonders if I made the right decision to go into the field right now… Again, I do think this field is a good fit for me. However, once I finish the program, I feel like I need to go straight into work. Obviously, I would go into the work, but I think there’s a part of me that wants to explore the world a little more. Maybe do something new? Pick up some new projects, business ventures, or traveling? For some reason, it feels like I’m kind of “tied down” to the decision. However, with all that said, I really am blessed to have this opportunity. These grad programs are very competitive and difficult to get into!

While change can be difficult, it’s also an opportunity to grow and learn something new. All this to say, it really is just taking a step of faith and figuring everything out!

If you’re attending college this fall, best of luck! Take a look at this blog post to help you adjust and make the most of your college experience! And if you’re interested in the field of school psychology, I recommend taking a look at this book. Dr. Barrett brings in personal stories about working in this field, which is a cool way to learn about the day-to-day life of a school psychologist.

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6 Replies to “Thoughts About Attending Grad School in Your Early 20’s”

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