My Journey to Grad School - Grace Not Perfection

So I posted a picture on Instagram Sunday talking about how I've been busting my butt over the last 15ish months to make myself a prime candidate for a speech-language pathology master's program. Now let me just tell you...these last few months especially have been a whirlwind.

Sometimes I don't even realize how much I'm cramming into a single day. From volunteer hours, class lectures, working in the research lab, shadowing SLPs, studying for exams - not to mention working 2 jobs, being a wife, a dog mom, a friend, etc. Life has been overwhelming to say the least. Not in a bad way, but in an "OMG what just happened" way. If I'm being honest, had I known just how competitive SLP programs are, I might have been too scared to go after this. Some days I still question whether I'm smart enough to pull this off. Then I snap out of it and realize how much I've accomplished.

I have (thus far) made all As in my speech classes. I've spent many nights working late since I'm in class all day. I've sacrificed social occasions galore to stay in and prep for neuroanatomy exams. The candle has constantly been burning at both ends. And even though it's not even close to being over, I felt a little bit of relief as I submitted my last graduate school application this weekend. Seeing the fruits of my labor all laid out in front of me, résumé style, was enough to make my head spin AND my smile widen. This is it you guys...the road to grad school. Things are getting really real. And I've made myself one promise that I plan to adhere to throughout this arduous waiting process:

I will hold myself to a standard of grace not perfection.

There is no guarantee that I'll get into grad school, but I can say that I have given 110% to this so I am PROUD. And I also believe that you reap what you sow. POSITIVE THOUGHTS = POSITIVE VIBES = POSITIVE LIFE.

Anyway, thanks for being a part of my journey to grad school :) I'll keep you guys updated, but I won't know much until the spring!

xo, Jess