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Returning
for advanced degree rewarding, uplifting
By Pat Mitchell
for GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: Former Gwinnett School Board
member Pat Mitchell is near completion in the doctoral program at
the University of Georgia. This fall she will be an assistant professor
at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., teaching public
administration. We thought you would enjoy hearing of her return
to graduate school.)
DACULA, June 19, 2001 -- Oftentimes one hears mid-career or late-career
individuals talk about going back to school - either for an occasional
class, a specialist degree, or to begin a degree.
Having been involved with this over the past five years, I am frequently
asked what it is like to return to school nearly three decades after
completing my BA degree. I began the Master of Public Administration
program at UGA (Gwinnett Center) with the idea of moving to the
mountains and becoming a finance manager in some small town.
Instead, when the Master's was completed, I opted for the doctorate
program because I had decided I wanted to teach. For those who wonder
what it is like - either because they may be considering it or simply
out of curiosity - the following addresses the typical questions
asked of me.
- Did I feel out of place, or was I made to feel out of place?
Not at all. Often, I wasn't the oldest student in the class and
even when I was, there seemed to be total acceptance. A real benefit,
especially in graduate school, is that everyone is there to learn.
I found learning from the experiences of others is sought after.
You almost become family with those in your program.
- Was the studying and reading difficult? At times, yes. In fact,
after the first night of class in my doctoral program, I went
home and cried having realized there were eight textbooks to cover
during the semester. But you soon handle it and learn what works
for you. You also find a great deal of support from peers and
most professors.
- What has been the most difficult part of returning to school?
For me, it's been writing in the academic style. Having formerly
written newspaper columns for small town papers and as an undergrad
English major, academic writing is far from natural for me. To
help myself with this, I allowed myself very little "pleasure
reading" so that I would be less likely to revert into a
journalistic style.
- Has it been worth the effort? Would I do it again? Absolutely!
This fall, with my doctorate all but complete, I'll have the opportunity
to teach public administration courses to young men and women
interested in public service. Not a bad occupation!
An additional benefit gained, and an important one, is friends.
New experiences and interesting friends enrich our lives. My new
friends include a Canadian mixed-race young lady who begins a Congressional
Fellowship in the U.S. House and Senate this fall; a girl my son's
age who will begin training volunteers to advocate and lobby for
services for the disabled; a devout Mormon who begins his professorship
this fall at Brigham Young University; a young lady my daughter's
age who has just returned from a 14 week stay in Russia where she
taught budget skills to government workers; and a delightful young
Korean, now at Auburn.
For those considering a return to the classroom, whether the interest
is an occasional class or work towards a degree, you will most likely
find it a tremendously rewarding experience. You won't be out of
place and the friendships earned are well worth the effort expended.
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