Two Down, Two to Go

Well, I finally got my applications in for the first deadlines (December 1st--nothing like cutting it close!).  I am now officially in the system for the University of Minnesota and Ohio State University.  The other two that I'm applying for, Utah State University and University of Tennessee, aren't due until January and February, respectively, so I can stop stressing about them for a few weeks at least.

My advice to future graduate applicants: start early.  REALLY early.  Like nine months or more early.  I think I've been researching schools since something like April, working on application materials since September, and actually been adding to specific applications for over a month, and I still felt like I was rushing.

I'm just happy to have these first applications out of my control.  These two schools seem to be the most competitive, so I hope my applications stand up well.  Anyhow you slice it, it's now in the hands of יהוה, so I'm happy.

This is why I'm here...

I've never really been into the idea of blogging before, but lately as I've been talking about graduate school a number of people have mentioned that they will want updates once I head out to wherever I'm going.  As such, I figure that a blog might be a useful thing to keep in touch with the wonderful folks supporting me from back home, though I doubt I'll be updating all that much, especially here at the beginning.

The title of this blog is a reference to something I heard while watching the women's team gymnastics final of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.  Some of the announcers commented that Ali Raisman's last performance would be the deciding factor for the gold medal, and they assumed she must be incredibly nervous.  However, another announcer understood what was going on in Miss Raisman's head and pointed out that "some people feel anxiety, pressure...others feel excitement.  It's how you label it."  I love that idea.

I strive to label my experiences in such a way that they cause me to grow and progress, and I also always try to honor יהוה, the who gave me this life and all the amazing opportunities in it.  Graduate school is something that could be both incredibly exciting and exceptionally frightening, but I'm working to label it as the next wonderful step in a life that has already been better than I could have asked for.