I remember reading in one of Tom Clancy's books about Special Forces how the commanders prepare Course of Action statements outlining what are their plans and what risk their chosen options entails. In talking to mom over the weekend I'm thinking I need to put down something to serve in a similar capacity so that my rollercoaster mood won't get me balancing between the different options.
The overall plan is:
- Do a GRE prep course between late march and May
- To take the GRE in June and again in October if I have to
- To complete my application to UGA no later than November 15th
- To have my UGA application submitted by December 1st
- If Accepted to move out July 2008
- Start classes Fall 2008
Part of the problem is that I'm not happy where I'm at right now. There's been a lot of stress, personal and work-related frustration and the inability of moving on on the career path that I want to be in. I don't know if I have the mental energy to stay and put up with all the unnecessary stress that surrounds me (whether it's self induced or not, that's a different story) which brings the second issue.
If I were to move (not likely but possible) I would have to get used to a brand new job which would take away time from completing the plan outlined above. On the other hand there are things like a job at Simmons College in Boston which sound exactly like I'm searching for and where I would be able to express a fuller range of skills and abilities.
What are the risks of changing plans and moving on to a different job? As good as I am at w hat I do my mom made a great point; getting used to a new environment takes a lot of energy and you have to be 100% onto what you're doing or you won't be successful.
So that's the question, do I want to suck it up for another 18 months and then move to school with a clean slate, spend my 4+ years working my ass off and then have the option to come back to California and teach; or do I want to move now, suck up another 24 to 30 months of work and then resume pursuing the PhD?
Change of plans
Why UGA and not USU anymore? In looking at the plans for both schools UGA's program is more my style. It'll keep me on track and on target better than a less structured program would. The chorot are smalls and t he structure of the program sounds more conductive to research and teaching.
Dreams
Fleetwood Mac (Rumors)
Now here you go again
You say you want your freedom
Well who am I to keep you down
Its only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness
Like a heartbeat.. drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost...
And what you had...
And what you lost
Thunder only happens when its raining
Players only love you when theyre playing
Say... women... they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean... youll know
Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
Its only me
Who wants to wrap around your dreams and...
Have you any dreams youd like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness...
Like a heartbeat... drives you mad...
In the stillness of remembering what you had...
And what you lost...
And what you had...
And what you lost
Thunder only happens when its raining
Players only love you when theyre playing
Say... women... they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean... youll know