You can do this!

Hi Friends,

Today's post is simply an old-school pep-talk. February is a difficult month for some... we're deep into winter and for those of us in western Pennsylvania this is becoming a long winter! February sees us a little over half-way through the academic year, and somehow this always seems to be a long stretch between winter break and spring break or summer.

So, you may be tired, feeling low-energy in terms of your school work, sick of shoveling snow and scraping ice, ready for a break. These feelings sometimes lead us to doubt -- should I be in grad school, is this what I really want, can I do this?

You can do this! If you are feeling overwhelmed, break your work down into smaller parts, and take it one section at a time. If you are feeling more tired than usual, carve out a short break this weekend. If your grades aren't what you would like them to be, talk with your professors and get additional feedback. And if you are having a dip in confidence, remember, you have gotten this far, you have what it takes.

Also, remember that I'm cheering you on! If you are one of my students, and are having difficulties, I'm here if you want to talk about it. If you aren't one of my students, drop me an email, or better yet, talk with one of your own professors, someone you trust who can help you over this moment.

You can do this! Just remember, your grad program director would not have admitted you if she or he didn't think you were a good fit for the program. You belong here. Most students hit these points at one time or another. Successful students are not typically those who don't ever face doubts or feeling stuck, successful students are the ones who persevere past these points. You can do this!

cheering for you!

Harriet

Photo by HLS