Lola, November 2, 2009I have been validated as a Vanderbilt graduate student. I got my very first paper back, and contrary to my apprehension and the near nausea I experienced while the prof passed them back at the beginning of class, I actually did pretty awesome. The brutally honest prof said, "some of you did very well, others..." I was sure I was one of the others. (Side note, I once over heard this prof telling an undergraduate student she needed to go back to the 9th grade to learn how to write...yikes right?)With every name he called I was thinking, "Oh, dear God please at least let me get a B, I need a B to know that I fit in here, I need a B to know that I don't need to go back to the 9th grade." Well, I did better than a B, thank you Mrs. Mooney, I do not need to go back to the 9th grade!
I have been seriously doubting my abilities since coming to Vanderbilt. While I am a Sundevil at heart, ASU isn't exactly known for academic rigor. I had been worried my grades were inflated, and my work would not be up to par. But alas, I have been validated, I am capable. I paid a quarter of what some of my classmates paid for their private school degrees, yet I am in the same program getting good grades. I guess hard work does mean something. And boy does it feel good.
PS Am I too old to pin my paper on the fridge?
Yesterday was Josh's birthday! What was he for Halloween you ask? Drunk.
This is the 7th Halloween birthday we have celebrated together. And if he starts to eat more vegetables, there will be at least 50 more!
More pictures from this weekend coming soon.
Some of the newly planted trees at our place are hot red! I will take pictures of campus this weekend. Vandy is a national arboretum and the changing leaves look amazing.
Off to the airport to pick up Josh's parents. Our very first Nashville visitors!
