Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Book Bags and Arthritis

I sometimes think I have been in school for too long.


It could be that I have started to feel decrepid amongst the schools of freshman, flitting about the hallways in a slew of giggles and iPhone and high heels and ball caps.

It could be that kids I used to babysit now have degrees (okay, a kid, singular, and the oldest, but still).

It could be that Labour Day is no longer about getting a new outfit or shiny squishy pens, as I was just at the university that week, and couldn't be bothered spiffying myself up for it yet again.

It could be that calculating the tuition paid by me over the years looks like the budget of a small African nation.

It could be that, in my most recent move, it occurred to me that I had more boxes of articles and other assorted papers than mementos.

It could be that every single person I ran into when visiting my home town inquired "Are you still in school?" or the more creative "How many more years until I can call you doctor?"

It could be that, as of yesterday, I have started my ninth year of post-secondary education.

That's right-- NINE.

(And it's not even my last year.)

Bless my seventeen year old self and her grandiose dreams of being psychologist-extraordinaire, but my present day self wants to go back in time and suggest dallying in the trades instead.

43 comments:

Essentially Me said...

By my calculations (4 years undergrad + 2 years MA + 4 years PhD = 10 years of no life), you have one year left so that's something to look forward to right?? Right??? RIGHT?!?!?!

I did 9 years as well, although three of those years was part-time while I worked full-time. Does that count?

Larissa said...

Nine?! Wow, you are my hero, friend. I barely lasted my four undergrad years.

Anonymous said...

oohhhh myyy shit. i fasttracked and hauled butt outta there...finished four years in three. hahaha. but i'm back this fall, albeit distance, and albeit for only one course.

(8)did you ever knooowwww that you're my heeeeeero????(8)lol. name that tune!

Ant said...

Like that funny comic guy said: you'll probably never leave. They've gotcha institutionalised now so you might as well enjoy it...

Lord Chimmy said...

School becomes a way of life. Be careful or (like me) you'll end up working at a University. It is sort of like being stuck in time...

wee-h said...

I did 6 and because of my 'speciality' ive been asked to do a PHD a few times. However the thought of no proper salary for 4 years scares me. I like my house...!

Anonymous said...

Eh, I am also starting my ninth year of being a student. But the only difference between you and me is that during that time I have only managed to get my BA and then spend years on not showing up in the uni. So you're far better off than me :)
Have a nice start to your schoolyear ;)

..... said...

gosh u'r so young !! please take advantage of it ! that's the only advice i can give

Anonymous said...

9 years. Wow. I only did 3 and that was long enough! How do you manage?!

dmb5_libra said...

Gosh, nine years! you desesrve a million dollars.

Unknown said...

I admire you, for reals. I'm facing a similar daunting career of school ahead of me, and can only imagine the student loans I'm going to be left with. AWESOME. But seriously, nine years? You amaze me!

Anonymous said...

it will all work out over time, but you've followed what you want to do, which is better than most people can say.

The Serial Monogamist said...

Yeah I thought college would take four years; five tops. And then Bush got in office ...

I have no idea how anyone can manage school in this world without working, but I guess if you're not born into the wealthiest of families, you should prepare for six to seven years of school at least.

Still, these are the "good" years right? Yeah, "good."

Anonymous said...

Damn. I'm heartily impressed.

I'm going to college part time after work, which means I should graduate with my BA in Finance in, oh, roughly 2020.

Hang in there!

B said...

I gotta be honest, I do not envy that amount of school.

I got out as soon as I could..

Princess Pointful said...

I'm Canadian, so the costs aren't quite as intense as in the US. But I've been full-time the entire time with no helps from the fam... just to specify :). It means a student loan for my undergrad, but thankfully I am qualified for decent paying part-time jobs as a grad student, and also am funded by some pretty sweet research grants.

Nilsa S. said...

My father is a professor. We always tease him, saying he's a student for life. Some people never leave the academic world. He's been in it (at the collegiate level) for roughly 45 years!

A Margarita said...

But Dr. Princess will have such a nice ring :)

Psych-o by now said...

I too am embarking on my 9th year of post-secondary education (all of it at the same institution). I feel your pain (and the cheaper Canadian tuition).

Have a great year!

Anonymous said...

In my humble opinion, there is no such thing as "too long." ;)

Screw anyone who tells you otherwise. You are going to have a PhD, girl! That is unbeatable.

Anonymous said...

Definitely worth it though, in the long run. I've done only six and a half so far, and since my degrees are pretty much worthless, I need to go back and get some more schoolin'. Clearly, I should have gone with one that would make a little money. You know, so I could pay to get a little sheet of paper.

Plus, I like school schedules better than work schedules. Work sucks.

Miss Dallas said...

OK, so post-post-graduate life isn't exactly all that shiny either.

I miss moving a lot, and not having an assload of possessions that collect dust. I realized when my husband and I (mind you, I'm 25) moved into our mortgage my belongings no longer fit into the 12 plastic totes that I kept handy just in case I got the itch to move again.

Now, with two dogs, two cats and three chickens, I'm kind of lashed to the mortgage (and the car payment, and the insurance, and the husband and...)

Enjoy these years of desperate paper-cut heartache and toil. Soon you'll be doing the same thing year after year and your life won't be ruled by semesters.

Rahul said...

I'm glad my educamationing ended at 4 years.

It probably ended at 2 years but don't tell my parents.

Princess of the Universe said...

I did 5 years to get my honours degree then stopped.
So by my calculations, you have more than one year right? Maybe 2 or 3?

Ugh- It'll all be worth it in the end right??

Since I now work in a U, today was crazy! Was I that young and stupid when I was in my first year??

xo

KA said...

hahaha, I'm sorry hon. i don't know what your area of psych is, but keep at it, you'll be making more money than me one day.

Anonymous said...

I have a feeling I'll be in school forever.

Yoda said...

Its not that bad! I did (4+5) for my PhD, but then I'm a genius :-p

Crashdummie said...

Wow... but u know what? I say, as long as you like studying, you go girl.

People also reacted on how long i continued studying, and the fact that I'm strongly considering going back to get my PhD.

I think its admirable that you are doing what you are loving. Kudos!

Z said...

Right there with ya (not quite at 9 years, but, um, close. Very close)

All these fresh new faces starting right now? Are kinda pissing me off. I want to grab them and shake them and yell at them - "You have NO IDEA what you are getting into! Don't look so damn happy!!!"

And then I realize I am old. And mean.

Katelin said...

holy cow nine years?!? i am impressed. i wouldn't have lasted past four, haha. but woo for one more year!

Anonymous said...

Nine years is impressive. I did 4 (honours), then stayed for another 1 (masters). And now I'm considering going back again (post grad cert/diploma in another area).
And then maybe my PhD (another 4).
That would make 10 all up.

But you'll miss it when (if?) you leave, so make the most of it!

Brunhilda said...

I hated when I started finding freshmen both irritating and irritatingly youthful. I wrote a very pointed comic strip (because I had a strip in the weekly campus paper, haha) asking if there was a secret dance club on campus I was unaware of, which might justify sequins and high heels being worn to 8:00 AM classes. It got big laughs from the older students, at least.

Beth said...

"It could be" (and will be) all worth it in the end.
But a little weariness and regret is all part of the process.

brandy said...

But just think of that moment when you go back and run into the nasty girl from highschool and you ask her politely to call you "Dr. Pointful". It will all be worth it.

Keep at it lady!

Disturbed Stranger said...

Wow! Wish you the best of luck! I got another 5yrs to go :( MA and phd....

*sigh*


lovely blog

Crushed said...

You are lucky!

I only had three....

Best years of my life...
Oh to be an eternal student!

PG said...

I hear ya! I'm starting my 11th year and am feeling like a bad remake of Groundhog Day.

I'm not sure what to do with my article collection after finishing.

Bayjb said...

I give you a ton of credit for sticking with this dear. I would have snapped at some point. Once you're done, you might even miss it!

Anonymous said...

i would just like to state for the record that i wholeheartedly and fully agree with you about the freshman thing.

at 25, i overhear them talking and chuckle to myself.

le sigh.

Anonymous said...

Sheesh. I think this is...my sixth year (not counting the year I took off last year.) I feel your pain. Though I'm pretty sure as soon as I finish up with my master's, I am done with school for a very long time. At least until I decide I want to subject myself to the pain and misery of getting either an MFA or a doctorate in fairy tales and folklore. Awesome. Maybe I'll do both cause I'm ADD like that.

Therapeutic Ramblings said...

I feel ya! I'm on year 9 too...and I spent just enough time in the "real" world to realize academia isn't all bad!

di.di said...

look at the bright side... a new beginning with opportunity awaits you on the other side of the rainbow....

Sheila said...

Talk about feeling old - my high school graduating class just celebrated it's 20th reunion!

I could never have endured school for that many years - you are my hero!