Lessons of Graduate School

If someone tries to summarize the experience of graduate school in one word, question their logic. Unless that word is pain. My own attempts at summary have failed so far and I wonder if they will continue to do so while the one word limit exists. Welp, we may never know.

Grad School is just like anything else in life that is even remotely interesting, it has lots of complexity and nuance to it. Though I have never been married, I suspect it is like marriage in that you go into it completely unprepared and you can't get out easily. From the last minute changes your advisor makes to your experimental setup, to the professor who treats his students like they are mentally deficient, the familiar anxiety of grades, to the profound sense of exhilaration at having discovered a new idea, and the long hours of writing; grad school is a motley mix of boring and exciting, fun and stress. It's all of those and none of those. 

Every day is something new. You realize over time that it is a game that must be played right. There are rules, written and unwritten, that one must follow. You'll find yourself outside of your comfort zone a lot. The feeling of mental exertion almost makes you sweat at times. You'll be forced (coerced? asked politely?) to work with people who come from vastly different backgrounds in every category that counts. Your schedule will be different than you are used to. It's all part of the beautifully terrible package of graduate education and research.

Let's revisit the one word description. Perhaps change is a good summary word. Or new. Or discovery! I like that one, because it sounds much more exciting. Let's face it, we're all just kids on the inside, looking for that rush. We lose that sense of excitement about the world as we get older. Such a shame. Graduate school has helped me keep that outlook, similar to my nephews when they come running over to show me their latest lego creation. Truth be told, I love this place and I love this experience. I don't want to be here forever (your sense of time WILL slow down) but it has already taught me so much and has made me a better engineer and better at working with people. It has opened up doors and solidified dreams. This can be a wonderful time, if you're willing to put in the work. I suppose it's not for everyone but hey, variety is the spice of life. Thanks, and Gig 'Em Aggies!