Just one week, two classes, some grading and 3 papers to submit.

I struggled a bit in my statistics course (I know surprise right), however I did get my crap together somewhat toward the end of this semester. I also have been invited back as a grad assistant and will be filling out my contract this week. Teaching has been interesting and I have learned a lot from my courses.

So the plan is to be here at least one more year, then move on to get back into the labor market. We’ll see! 2 weeks ago

What a lucky girl I am, pursuing this dream. I’m teaching two and taking two classes, so I shall be quite busy! I’m really trying to flesh out what I’d like to do for m dissertation, but m not quite sure just yet. 4 months ago

Time has flown! I’ve survived my first semester as a PhD student and as a Las Vegas resident. I’m wrapping up a paper as we speak and will finish up everything this week. Then onto a much undeserved winter break to prep for next semester! 5 months ago

And my passion for this is going strong. Had a bit of a slump, fighting off those past demons – back off I say! Now I am feeling very good. I am excited to be able to start planning for next semester and for the future.

I still find it hard to believe that I – me – I’m here! 7 months ago

So it was my turn to lead the class tonight. I was adequate to say the least until….drum roll please….the Professor had to set me straight because I was presenting incorrect information to the class. I deserved it – I had made an incorrect assumption- and it was very wrong.

Soo…this is entirely my doing and I need to take my lumps. Rough though, I wanted to cry because I was so wrong, just wrong. Disappointed in myself right now. I was feeling good walking into class as I had thoroughly read and (bonus) understood all the readings.

Weak performance on my part tonight, nights like this are the times I wish I had someone to come home to. Brutus, my bullpug, is snoring and feigned interest when I had french fries, but its just not the same. 8 months ago

Great first class! I have so much reading to do, so much to learn. I’m very excited. I did also get my course online and made my first mistake of course lol.

I can do it! 9 months ago

This last week has been much different than I had planned, with my vehicle self destructing and requiring much more work than I had planned on. This left me with a week more without my books, without my course shell, without my obsession! But then its been great too, as with the concerns over the sale of my house, adopting out my big dog (heartrending), and the general shivers that come with moving, a little more time was actually what I needed to process everything.

So, books are bought, contracts signed, logins secured and campus self orientation completed. I need to complete some work on my course I’m teaching, but (breathe) things are coming along. 9 months ago

Found out recently that as part of my graduate assistantship I will teaching, via the web, an introductory course at my college! I am so excited, this is exactly where I want to be heading and it is happening. I will need to be very, very diligent about my spending habits to get through my PhD (Peru may have to wait:), but this experience is exactly, exactly what I wanted. 10 months ago

So in August I will move to las Vegas and began my graduate assistantship and phd classes. I can’t believe this is actually happening. 11 months ago

I’m told that having a 4.0 will not guarantee you a place in a good Ph.D. program at a top univeristy. You have to have the right preparation. You have to start early and yu have to make the right moves.

I have the right moves. I have 2 and a half years before I graduate with both my bachlors. I have a plan.

I have been chosen as a McNair scholar ((a nationally recognized program)) and with them I will be doing my honors senior thesis. Not just that, original undergraduate research, 2 years of field work!! This is huge for an undergraduate.

Next summer I am going abroad, Mexico most likely, to do field school. So I will have field school and international experience.

The summer after that I will do an interniship. I’m looking at the Smithsonian for that. I have a friend who has done several summers there, she’s going to put me in contact.

On top of all that… this fall and spring I’m going to apply to several elite undergraduate fellowships. Like Rhodes and such. If I can get one of those I am golden.

With the research I’ll also start presenting at professional confrences as early as this spring. That will help me network with people in the field and get my work out there.

With luck I will also publsih my work. Not only the research but a few papers in history and anth. Publication looks really goood.

and of course keep my grades up. This is what it takes to get into a tier one graduate school, so this is what I’ll do. The next 2 years of my life will be hectic. The fact that everything is so planned will drive me nuts. But I’ve already taken the first steps toward getting m Ph.D. 21 months ago

I currently have 12 hours earned toward my doctoral degree. My coursework and plan was interrupted by pregnancy. I currently tell people that I am working on my MOM degree but will eventually return to working on the Ph. D. 2 years ago