I think I've got it...

But if not, that's okay too.

Anyway.

I want to go to grad school.  If you know me, you know this already.  But the question I've been asked recently is what I want to do with a masters.  I don't really know, but I have a few ideas.

I definitely want to work with college students.  That is a given seeing as what I'm looking to get my degree in.  I love the age group.  The students are still able to be molded and directed to the path they want to go.  Not in a cult style direction, but in a life style direction.  Elementary and middle school students aren't my thing.  High school students are still in the back of my mind, but it's the college age that are the most desirable right now.  The 18-23 age range is still in the decision making range.  It's such a cool place to be.

At the same time though, there are still huge issues to deal with during this period.

Another "group" that has always been in my mind is the suicidal, depressed, self-injurious group.  Yeah, the personal connection helps, but really it's just the "type" of people in the group that really help.  I get along with them.  I like them.  It works.

So, this is what I've started thinking about.

((And surprisingly, this began to arise again during my JMU CSPA interview.))

The stresses of life (and seeming inability to get away from them) don't just disappear after high school.  In fact, they probably get a little bit bigger.  Once the realization hits that you're growing up and being forced into an independence that you're probably not ready for, the seriousness of life comes into focus.  Does that mean that everyone starts to stress out and can't handle it?  Definitely not.  But there are many people in that 18-23 age range that don't cope or handle the new situations in the most healthy way.  Basically, the world of stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-injury are still present on a college campus.  What's not present?  Knowledge, accessible support, or education for those not dealing with it.  Yes, you can go to any college campus and find a counseling center somewhere.  That's easy.  But the idea that there are "cutters" at college is is something not thought about by a lot of people.  I want to change that.  I don't know how.  But I do.  I have ideas in my head, but really, I think it all has to start with education and acceptance.  Many people think the "emo" phase fades out after high school, therefore the cutters and depresso kids fade out too once they hit the college scene.  So, the knowledge that it's still prevalent isn't there, and without knowledge there's not a lot of acceptance.  It's sad.  But it's true.

So, that was a pseudo blab, but it's what I'm feeling right now.  I want to figure this out.  I want to work with the depresso kids.  The cutters.  The college students who feel that they're not accepted or understood.  The ones who will go somewhere once I'm through with them (in a non-cocky way of course).


And, on that note.  I've been denied at UConn.  Oh well.  I had my interview with JMU, hopefully that went well and I'll hear some good news mid-March.  And I have been accepted to the University of South Carolina.  I'm headed down there February 26 - March 1 for assistantship interviews.  So, no matter where, I will be going to graduate school after the summer is over.

Yep.