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I'm 42 and considering going back to grad school for a career change due to burnout in my current field. Flip that and tell yourself 23 is too young to be stuck in a career you feel apathetic towards. The learning can be done in smaller bits if needed, and you don't necessarily have to go all in. Be a part-time student at your own pace.
Aug 6, 2024
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๐I took off an entire year before my first degree after high school and just took language classes for fun, and it was the best thing I could have done to settle into my undergrad degree when I eventually went. The truth is, people who discourage it tend to do so because they think you will need to play catch up but there is actually nothing to catch up to, its just arbitrary standards about what you should do and when. It will never be too late to do and become the things that you want. But when you are burnt out, and need a mental health break, especially when you have avenues to take a break, you should listen to your body and do it.
How you use your gap semester is up to you, whether its getting more sleep or taking some pottery classes for fun, but I found it fulfilling to have a break where I was not just running on a hamster wheel, worrying myself sick about my miles long to do list. And I was the better for it when I went to uni afterwards, I was more focused and I had a better understanding of what I wanted out of my academic career. So yeah, do it, the refresh is more likely to help than it is to harm, just be balanced in how you use it e.g. do some hobbies now that you aren't beholden to the school schedule, don't jam pack your time away and come back tired etc
How you use your gap semester is up to you, whether its getting more sleep or taking some pottery classes for fun, but I found it fulfilling to have a break where I was not just running on a hamster wheel, worrying myself sick about my miles long to do list. And I was the better for it when I went to uni afterwards, I was more focused and I had a better understanding of what I wanted out of my academic career. So yeah, do it, the refresh is more likely to help than it is to harm, just be balanced in how you use it e.g. do some hobbies now that you aren't beholden to the school schedule, don't jam pack your time away and come back tired etc
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๐kind of regret not doing this myself, especially during my absolutely cooked COVID semesters during undergrad. now having completed undergrad and grad school, i am more convinced than ever of the truth that as much if not more learning happens outside the classroom, and certainly more personal growth. had i been of this mindset while i was still a student, i probably would have taken a gap semester at some point.
i think if you need it solely as a reprieve from academic burnout, then by all means get some much needed rest, but if you can take a gap semester that would be also personally edifying in another way, absolutely go for it! maybe take on an internship, maybe do some traveling, maybe do some reading on topics you're tangentially interested in but aren't the core focus of your studies, maybe take time and invest in relationships, or pour into your hobbies, grow yourself in ways that make you a more well rounded and fulfilled person. the school to career pipeline exists for convenience and isn't going anywhere. take your time.
i think if you need it solely as a reprieve from academic burnout, then by all means get some much needed rest, but if you can take a gap semester that would be also personally edifying in another way, absolutely go for it! maybe take on an internship, maybe do some traveling, maybe do some reading on topics you're tangentially interested in but aren't the core focus of your studies, maybe take time and invest in relationships, or pour into your hobbies, grow yourself in ways that make you a more well rounded and fulfilled person. the school to career pipeline exists for convenience and isn't going anywhere. take your time.
Aug 9, 2024
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๐ซI remember starting undergrad I was incredibly stressed about financials/time-management I donโt think I truly processed a thing. Now that I can set the pace and keep my full time job, school ainโt so bad.
I love being a part-time student.
I love being a part-time student.
Apr 24, 2025
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โญmakes my kid happy to get free books so i wanna make other peopleโs kids happy too.
Jan 29, 2024
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๐especially when there are so many better fits out there. dump him, babe.
Feb 29, 2024
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โญshe's one of my tops too, so i'm just gonna rec some of my fave reads of the past few years:
august blue by deborah levy the guest by emma cline tides by sara freeman pretend i'm dead / vacuuming in the dark / big swiss by jen beagin hurricane girl by marcy demansky we do what we do in the dark by michelle hart noone is talking about this by patricia lockwood want by lynn steger strong luster by raven leilani temporary by hilary leichter pizza girl by jean kyoung frazier goodbye vitamin by rachel khong tampa by alissa nutting hot milk by deborah levy 13 ways of looking at a fat girl by mona awad barbara the slut and other people by lauren holmes cat brushing by jane campbell
august blue by deborah levy the guest by emma cline tides by sara freeman pretend i'm dead / vacuuming in the dark / big swiss by jen beagin hurricane girl by marcy demansky we do what we do in the dark by michelle hart noone is talking about this by patricia lockwood want by lynn steger strong luster by raven leilani temporary by hilary leichter pizza girl by jean kyoung frazier goodbye vitamin by rachel khong tampa by alissa nutting hot milk by deborah levy 13 ways of looking at a fat girl by mona awad barbara the slut and other people by lauren holmes cat brushing by jane campbell
Jan 31, 2024