#olderstudent

[furrybrownbear]

Grateful for every gray hair in this goatee. #Blackademic #OlderStudent https://www.instagram.com/p/B3sNawGHuCxrIKf5FUL-oU9Vwp6e2DrqBdwoMA0/?igshid=o0qg57pzi1bu

[soupsandsandwiches]

PA-S

It seemed like it was about time for an update from me. I am entering into my fourth week of my program, and dear Lord has the time flown!

You always hear how much work PA school is- how it’s utterly soul sucking and you can say goodbye to outside relationships for 27 months. 

While this is true, I feel so very fortunate to already hold a Master’s degree which was no easy ride to complete. I already know what it means to spend hours in the lab after classes, studying for exams that come all too quickly, and sometimes not doing so hot. I already know that sometimes, in life, you have to teach yourself because the method the professor uses just doesn’t make sense to you. And I also already know that in order to succeed, you must count on your classmates to help you learn, and to help you teach.

Most PA programs have an average age of students in their late 20s. My cohort is 31 students, and over half graduated from school this winter/spring. At 30, I am the second oldest person in the program, and there are only a few of us older than 25. 

I am one of three people who held a career prior to school, and I feel so, so fortunate for that. I am a better listener, a better learner, and a far better student than I was in undergrad, OR in my first master’s program. 

All of this is to say that I am hanging in there. I spent at least one, if not two days every weekend on campus, studying. I have found my Karev, as I thoughtfully refer to him (hello? Grey’s Anatomy fans?), and he and I study together daily. We’re often the only ones on campus working, and I am so grateful to have found another like minded person. 

School is hard, don’t get me wrong. I study. every. single. night. But I still make time for me. I workout (albeit, not 5-6 days a week like I was used to, but always at least 3-4, with a goal of 5 eventually). I haven’t gotten back into cooking often yet, but that too will come as I continue to settle in- I try to make 2 good meals a week. I am dog walking over lunch (yes, I still have my pup, and yes, she is jealous that she doesn’t get my attention every day), and I hold a campus job one Saturday a month. I am sprinkling in some babysitting on the extra days. 

I’m making it work and surviving, and I am so, so thankful for my life experience prior to this journey. Last fall, I held a FT job, two PT jobs, and took night classes at a CC an hour away from home. When I got into school and worried I couldn’t survive, my best friend reminded me that if I could do that, I could do anything.

At the time, I didn’t believe her. Now? I understand that she was so, so right.

Sorry for the selfish ramble. I am feeling very fortunate these days, and just wanted to document that feeling. Now, back to studying- Block 1 ends this week which means mega exams and a practical!

[j-lynn-adventures-blog]

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