Okay, here's a quote from @drmelissadalestevens on IG that I've had saved on my phone for a while. And it's hitting deep now that I've found it again...
This is the reason I made the decision not to apply to grad school right after undergrad.
During high school, I was thinking about the years after undergrad. Four years. Hell, they'll pass by quickly right?
I had the "ambitious" goal of wanting to be the youngest person in my circle, in my community, to earn their master's and PhD. And while it's not a bad idea for those who truly want it, I've come to the realization that it feels like such an 'auto-pilot' plan; one that I especially don't find fulfillment in at the current moment.
For most of my life, it's been ingrained in me that academics and education are the main paths to dedicate yourself to. The first in my family to go to college; there was no doubt that I wouldn't go. And I excelled in academics; I liked learning (and still do). 'College is the way out of poverty' 'College is the way to a better life' So why the hell not?
But as I've gotten older and progressed through undergrad, in the realization that happiness is the path you cultivate / you define what happiness means to you, I realize that there's more to life than academics. I shouldn't feel insecure to diverge from what everyone else is doing, invest in my talents, and explore career opportunities. So while I do feel nervous that I'm taking a different path than my peers and I'm not getting acceptance letters, the main thing is to invest in yourself. Invest in yourself the way you want to!
