How to Survive Your “Breakdown Moments” in Graduate School!

             Being in Graduate school pushes you to limits you never thought existed both mentally, physically, and emotionally. The long nights of studying, stress and anxiety of tests and homework, and most of all the always being busy with school work and having to give up you social life time. After a while you start to miss being able to do whatever you want on the weekends, coming home from work and kicking your feet up, and being able to go with the flow of life and attend BBQ’s, parties, family events, and have nights out with your friends without planning ahead. In the chaos of it all, we often find ourselves saying phrases such as: “why did I do this to myself?”, “Why did I think this was a good idea?”, “I am so over it!”, “I just want to be done!”, “I don’t care anymore, I am so over it!”, “I just want to give up, I am so tired!”, and more.

This is when we have to look in the mirror and give ourselves the reality check we need. When all else fails, have a vent session with your parents, best friend, sister, brother, significant other, whoever your person/people are. How I personally get through my “breakdown moments” is by either venting with my best friend who is also in my program which is amazing because, she understands first-hand, or I call my mom! We are human and this happens! It is so easy to get distracted by the stress of the now and forget why we are doing this. This is when you have to remind yourself of a few things:

1.       Your reason for going to graduate school in the first place.

2.       How having your doctorate or master’s degree will better your life in so many ways.

3.       If it was easy everyone would do it!

4.       In the long run all of your hard work is going to pay off so just keep on pushing!

When all else fails some things that I do to help me when I feel like I just want to give up and have lost all motivation are:

·         Working out: Working out just makes you feel better on the inside and out and personally helps me focus better.

·         Take a break: I take a break from school work and go enjoy myself for a day. All work and no play makes for a very unhappy person.

·         Look up inspirational quotes: This sound cheesy I know, but sometimes I just need a little pick me up about life.

·        Indulge: I will treat myself to a nice dinner, ice cream, cake, and so forth. I work by butt off and shouldn’t deprive myself is what I tell myself to make me feel better lol.

·         Watch a movie: sometimes escaping into another world is just what my mind needs.

·        Vent: I am the type of person where sometimes I just need to get it all out. I let my frustrations, anxiety, and stress build up and if I don’t vent I will simply blow! This is when it calls for a serious mom call or chat with my best friend.

Most of all remember that you are not alone, we have all felt like this at some point during graduate school and ITS OKAY!!!

          These are just a few things that help me get through my “breakdown moments”. I would love to hear what helps you get through your “breakdown moments?”

 

 

                                                                                                                                -Jessica

How Can Having a Pet Help you in Graduate School?

Meet Daisy (my first fur child)

And Meet Buddy (the newest addition to my family)

Best Friends

I never realized it until recently how much these two little animals influence me in all aspects of life and school. Especially Buddy,as he is still a baby (8 months old), he requires much more attention than Daisy who is 7 years old. Both owning a dog and being in Graduate school have one major thing in common, they are both a BIG responsibility and commitment that should be carefully thought out.

How have my dogs influenced my life during school:

 Motivation

·         Like clockwork every morning between 5:55 and 6:15 Buddy is up and ready to go. His alarm clock of choice is licking my face and sitting on me! I on the other hand would like to hit the snooze button on my alarm until 6:30 or stay in bed for a while lol. He gives me motivation to get out of bed and start my day off early. Sometimes I will work out, read a chapter of my book for class while eating breakfast, play outside with them, or simply relax before work or school. When the weather is nice this is even more of a motivation for me to exercise, do things outside, take the dogs for a walk, or play with them. They motivate me to get my work done so I can play with them or take a break instead of being stuck inside all day staring at a computer. Most of all, they keep me going and help increase my energy.

Stress Relief 

·         There is no greater feeling that snugging up next to my dogs. They know when I feel stressed and need comfort and are always there smiling at me and wagging their tails. They make the best study/homework buddies and will stay up with me through all hours of the night. As much as Buddy and his new found love for “marking his territory” in my house annoys me lol, I wouldn’t trade having him or daisy for the world. They simply make me happier! Not to mention I sleep 100% better at night having them in bed with me.

     Responsibility

·         I consider myself a very responsible person to begin with however, having two dogs forces me to not just think about myself. I need to make sure they have food, water, get taken out, plan trips accordingly, and so forth. This forces me to be very organized and manage my time more effectively. This is a very valuable skill in graduate school.

        Patience

·         Buddy’s new found behavior of marking his territory is really testing my patience these days. However, both of them have tested my patience on more than one occasion. When we first moved into our house Daisy used to go to the bathroom in our bedroom out of spite. When we first got Buddy, he hated his cage and would cry all night long. Not to mention go to the bathroom in it and wake up 4-5 times a night. They have both taught me to count to 10 and realize it’s okay, there are worse things that could be happening in life.

Owning a dog is not as easy as it sounds especially when you have two. Having any pet is a big responsibility in regards to time, money, and sacrifices that you may have to make. At the end of the day though, they will be a loyal best friend and someone who will love you not matter what each and every day. I am thankful to have my fur babies on this grad school journey with me <3

How have your pets helped you during your graduate school journey?

-Jessica 

Relax and Unwind

Whether you just finished your semester or graduated with your Bachelor’s degree it is time to relax and unwind. This weekend marks the official kick off to summer, and you should ENJOY every minute of free time! For those of you who just graduated, this will be the last summer you fully have to yourself for a while so make the most of it! For those of you who just finished your semester enjoy your few weeks off before summer classes begin, or if you don’t have summer classes, use your free time wisely to get ahead and relax. You just worked your tail off, lost hours of sleep, ate your stresses away, and most likely missed social outings, and spending quality time with family, friends, and significant others. It is time to make up for lost time and reconnect with your family, friends, significant others and most of all yourself. All work and no play can make a person go stir crazy. Our bodies and minds need a break. You want to go into your next semester refreshed, relaxed, and ready to go!

Some things you could do this summer to help yourself relax, feel better, and develop good habits for the fall!

·        Catch up on sleep and all of your favorite shows you may have missed during the school year.

·        Eat healthy (junk food is tempting but, think about how you feel after eating it all the time).

·        Treat yourself to dessert, a drink, and etc. (everything in moderation and you should never deprive yourself).

·        Go to the beach, pool, or wherever your relaxation spot may be and just “veg” and clear your mind. For me personally, that is the beach.

·        Take day trips with family/friends, go on a mini weekend getaway or week vacation if you can, and most of all enjoy your time.

·        Start/continue to exercise and get into a routine. It is beyond hard to start but, once you get into a routine you will start to feel better physically and emotionally.

o   Take a walk/jog on the beach, walk your dog, walk at night with friends.

o   Go to the gym.

o   Try yoga or meditation.

o   Ride your bike, scooter, etc.

o   Do laps in your pool or community pool.

o   Take a dance class or try a new exercise class.

o   Do workouts at home.

(Anything you do is better than nothing. Take 25-30 minutes of “me” time a day to focus on your own well-being. If you can’t commit to 5x a week then set a goal for 3x a week. Make a routine that will work for you).

Most of all enjoy the warm weather and do what makes you happy =)

-Jessica

A Big Congratulations!

         A big congratulations to our fellow Masters and Doctoral graduating Graduate Students, at Stockton University. Today is the day you have been waiting for, all of your hard work and dedication was worth it. Stephanie and I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. Remember that no matter where you go in life, you will always have your Stockton Family! Cheers to this next chapter in your lives and Congratulations again!

Jessica & Stephanie

Video Blog Post

I hope you all enjoy our very first video post. Feel free to comment below or email us at gradschool@stockton.edu with any questions!

-Jessica

Exciting News for the MSCD Program at Stockton!

          Stockton University Masters of Science in Communication Disorders Program has aligned with Adler Aphasia Center to provide the Aphasia Communication Group.  Masters students from the Communication Disorders Program will be working under the supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist and clinical affiliate, JoAnn Sabo, M.A., CCC-SLP, to assist with group facilitation as part of their clinical externship experience. This wonderful partnership allows the students to gain valuable experience while giving back to the community.

        The Aphasia Communication group is a free group open to the public. The group will meet twice per month to help patients with aphasia to practice speaking, develop alternative communication strategies, cope with the challenges of living with aphasia, and meet and interact with others with aphasia and their family.  The group will meet on the second and fourth Fridays of each month from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Stockton University’s Kramer Hall in Hammonton, NJ starting in March 2016.

       For more information, directions and to pre-register, contact

Wendy Greenspan at: 

• Phone:973.530.3981 or email at wgreenspan@adleraphasiacenter.org.

Directions also available at:   http://www.stockton.edu/hammonton

*Please note, you can join the group at anytime*

-Jessica

Tapping into Both Sides of your Brain!

            This semester my professor introduced us to a study game called KAHOOT. If you have not heard of Kahoot (like myself), I strongly recommend becoming a member. This was a great interactive way to get us all excited and involved in studying and the prize (chocolate!!!!). Not to mention it taps into both sides of the brain, which will only help to further learn the information better. We played two games of Kahoot in class, one primarily on Aphasia and the other on TBI. My professor even posted them to Blackboard prior to the exam so we could study on our own. This was a HUGE HELP. Especially with the Aphasia’s, because there are so many to remember. My only regret is that we didn’t learn this sooner in grad school.

How does Kahoot Work?

• You make up the questions by  creating a new game

• When you are ready to play, click start

• With your phone or iPad go to Kahoot.com or download the app

• Input the game code

• Make up a name for yourself

• Click join

• Then you are on your way

• A question will appear on the computer screen, you will then use your phone to respond. BE CAREFUL though, because you have to select the correct response and there are different colors and symbols in the choices.

Here are some examples from our game!

I would love to hear if you have any Study tips or Apps, comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading =)

-Jessica

Applying to Graduate School 101

      FIRST & FOREMOST

1.      Take a Deep Breath

2.      Remember how much you want this

3.      Make sure you stay organized

4.      Keep a Sweet treat in the kitchen for those stressful days

5.      Find something to distract you from the stress/nerves like: a TV show, the gym, hanging with friends, anything you like and do this at least once a week!!! Having “Me” time is very important!

6.      Remember nothing worthwhile comes easy, and if it was easy everyone would be doing it!

Time to Get Started!!                                         

•           Look into the schools you want to apply to and make a word document with their deadlines, admissions requirements, and address! This will help you in the long run…..TRUST ME. Organization will be your best friend! Don’t be afraid to apply to schools far away or a lot of  schools depending on your financial situation and the competitiveness of your program. 
•          Research if you are required to take the GRE’s, MAT, or GMAT for your program. Register for your test early, and remember not everyone is a great standardized test taker (I personally am not). Go in with an open mind the first time and try your best. Treat yourself to drinks, ice cream, or a nice dinner after, you deserve a break.

-Tip for the GRE’s: if you know where you want to apply send your scores the day you take your test. You will save yourself $100, because you can send them to four schools for free that day. Each time you send your scores it is $25.

• .         Ask your recommenders if they will write your letters of recommendation early, you want to give them plenty of time! Make them a folder with your resume, description of what you want to go to grad school for, un-official transcripts, the schools and their deadlines you are applying to, along with envelopes with an address and stamp for the school. This makes their lives easier, which ultimately makes your life easier. Less hassle for them means the better your letter could be, the quicker they could send it out, and the more appreciative that person is of your organization. The application process is changing, more and more schools are going paperless. Keep this in mind before asking your recommender for a letter. If the school(s) you are applying to is paperless, you may want to print out instructions for how to submit your letter for them. Additionally, make your online profile for those paperless schools early, so you are already in the system and are more familiar with the system.

• .         Start writing your resume and personal statements! Proof read, proof read, and proof read these. Have your friends, parents, siblings, co-workers and so forth read your personal statements. You can read your statement 100 times but, they may find something you didn’t. Bring your letter to your schools career center to get looked at, Christy Cunningham is AMAZING at Stockton!! Go early though, September-October would be great depending on your deadline! Each school is different and will require different essays. Also be on the lookout for two essays for some schools.

Tip:  -The hardest thing to do is write about yourself, don’t get discouraged!

- Make your personal statement unique and different!

- Add meaningful experiences, research topics that interest you, and things that make you a unique candidate. Schools want to see what you can bring to their program.

- You have to think like this; if there are 300 applicants applying for 30 spots, why should they pick you?

• .         For very competitive programs like Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy start the process early!! Some schools use general application systems such as CSDCAS, OTCAS, and PTCAS. Start these applications very early on. In addition, when you are submitting them, I would recommend to do so at least two months before your deadline. It can take some time for your application to be verified from them and sent to your school. Additionally, look to see if schools want your application to be completed, submitted, or verified by the deadline as these are different stages of the applicant process. The verification process takes the longest as that is the last step, keep that in mind.

Thoughts to Keep in Mind

- Stay organized

-    - Submit your best work, proofread everything AT LEAST twice. Then have someone else proofread it!

-          Take your time, do not rush through the application process.

-    Go see the schools you’re applying to! A school can look pretty and sound great online however, seeing it first-hand and speaking with faculty can completely change your mind!

-      - Apply to a random school down south or out west, do not be afraid to take a chance especially if your program is highly competitive.

-          Remember you can do this, this is step one to your dream career!

I hope you found this information helpful, if you have any additional questions about applying to graduate school (especially Stockton) feel free to comment below or email gradschool@stockton.edu.

-Jessica