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When I decided to apply to 海角乱伦, it was based on the positive feedback I had heard from a couple of acquaintances who attended previously. I trusted what they were telling me, but it always seemed almost too good to be true. Being an older student who has had quite a bit of experience outside of academia that was not always positive led me to be somewhat skeptical. While I went into this program with a lot of hope for a great experience, I had no idea exactly how incredible it would be.听

I am a mother of two teenagers, a wife, and we run a small hobby farm. My life outside of academics is full and busy. Things come up unexpectedly all the time. I have become adept at dealing with this and I have a really strong support system at home, but it always felt as though it was an inconvenience to those I worked or went to school with. From the moment I set foot in 海角乱伦, I have felt more support than I have ever felt before in my entire life. Even at my practicum location of Easterseals, my team supports me and encourages me through everything that is thrown my way.听

Trying to wear so many different hats can be extremely challenging and wanting to do my best in all my different roles can be exhausting. It has been such a breath of fresh air to be in an environment that not only cares about the academics, but about the people as well. I could not be doing grad school at this level without the support 海角乱伦 is offering me each day. The culture at 海角乱伦 is one of kindness and empathy. They foster that in the faculty, staff and students who then take that into the community.听

I have had nearly every professor reach out to me personally just to check in. I have had staff do the same regularly. The students who are on this journey with me have become some of the best friends I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. None of this has been easy, but for the first time, I wake up each day ready to face the hard work, knowing it is worth it and that I am well supported in it.听

When people ask me how I do it, I simply remind them I am not doing it alone. I have supportive family and friends, colleagues, professors and mentors, and a cohort that has held my hand every step of the way so far. Asking for help and leaning on those around me is what is getting me through. I feel that who I am as a person is valued and that the human experience is truly understood and appreciated. Being in a graduate program that not only teaches but embodies unconditional positive regard is making all the difference. And I am eternally grateful.听

To anyone considering graduate school for clinical psychology, my best advice is to lean on those around you. If you come to 海角乱伦, stay ahead of the curve on work. Don鈥檛 wait to get things done. If you are struggling, ask for help. Everyone here wants you to succeed. Get up early or stay up late to get in a bit of quiet time for yourself, whichever works best for you. Get the phone numbers of those in your program and stay in contact with them. They understand what you are going through better than anyone else will. Take entire days off and do nothing, and don鈥檛 feel guilty about it. Really dive into the program and get the most out of it while you can. It is life changing and worth it. Mostly, don鈥檛 just try to survive it, but enjoy it.听

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Name: Christopher Corbin, MA (’18)

Current Program: PsyD

Describe the (joys and) challenges in your life that make graduate school difficult to manage.

I truly enjoy spending time with my family which includes taking trips and planning fun activities. However, sometimes managing a family worth of schedules to include coordinating different events such as school, work, and extracurricular activities can be very challenging. Time management and planning are both a joy and a challenge for me and can sometimes make graduate school difficult to manage.

How do you make it work?

Support. If it were not for the support of my family and friends, I would not be able to make it work.

Originally, I was not one who enjoyed relying on others and would have much rather preferred to rely on myself. However, I had to learn really quick that I needed to rely on others in order to survive. I have come to embrace this support and I truly feel that it has allowed me to build better relationship with those around me.

What are some tips or secrets you have for staying organized with a busy schedule?

When you have two children ages 5 and 3, planning is critical. My family and I have a three-month calendar which sits in our kitchen and it holds my schedule, my wife鈥檚 work schedule, and our children鈥檚 schedules, plus any family events that we have. This even includes half days of school, day care, who is watching my son and who is picking up my daughter on the days I am unable to.

I also Chair a board for a Dyslexic Learning Center, serving southeastern Michigan and have recurring board meetings and conferences which I have to attend. Keeping and maintaining a schedule is how I stayed organized and how I stayed alive. However, it is important to know that sometimes plans change (sicknesses, car troubles, and life), but it makes it easy to see what will be impacted by surprises.

How do you make time for yourself?

At first, I never made time for myself because I did not think it was important and it impacted me psychologically and physically. However, as the semester went on, I started to give myself 40 minutes a day, 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening.

Outside of this 40-minute time, the rest of the day was dedicated to school and family. In the morning, I would shower, eat breakfast, drink my coffee and meditate. In the evening, my wife and I put our kids to bed and afterwards spend time together, either reading together or watching a show on Netflix. This time allowed me to reground myself in my our life and it helped me reflect on my experiences and identify the changes which were happening internally.

How do you avoid feeling overwhelmed?

Whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed, I look to my support. My wife, children and close friends are who I rely on to provide logistical and emotional support. I bounce my frustration and my exhaustion off my friends and they help me find my center again. I also meditate and practice new mindfulness techniques not only to get my own clarity, but to experience something which I ask my own clients to experience.

What support have you received from 海角乱伦?

Outside of the support from individual professors who are always there to answer questions, provide guidance, and give support, the school feels like a family where everyone is there to support you. Additionally, I am dyslexic and whenever I have questions or need extra time on assignments the professors are more than willing to accommodate me.

I have never been made to feel bad about using my accommodations or felt that I was not welcomed to seek assistance. 海角乱伦 has always provided both academic and personal support throughout my time at the school.

What advice would you give a prospective student who is worried he or she can鈥檛 make grad school work?

Do not give up! There are times when it seems like everything is due but I promise YOU CAN DO IT! Keep your eye on the syllabus for due dates and DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

You will never find another school which truly cares about you as an individual and as a professional. Plus, if you are ever feeling overwhelmed or questioning yourself, you can always reach out to me because I am here for you too.

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Name: Ashley N. Craft

Current Program: Part Time MA

Describe the (joys and) challenges in your life that make graduate school difficult to manage.

The joys and challenges in my life that make graduate school difficult to manage are balancing a healthy personal life, work life, dealing with the recent passing of my mother, and scarce time for self care.

Finding joy independent of the graduate program is often hard due to the time commitment. Most free time is spent working on assignments for my courses.听The same holds true for balancing a full time job. I don鈥檛 work in a traditional setting, so my earliest day throughout the week ends at听8:00 pm.

In light of my schedule, I make it my own personal responsibility to do things I enjoy on my off day, the weekend.听I work really hard to stay on top of my work, but I make it a point to put my books down and not check work emails on my weekends. It can be hard if you allow yourself to fall behind, the overall goal simply has to remain at the forefront. Adjusting to a new way of life and being without my mom has also become a new reality in this journey, making intrinsic motivation very important.

How do you make it work?

In order to make it work, the reality is you have to find your reason for embarking on this journey. You need to understand why you are making this decision so that when things are tough, you can balance the long term goal against the short term stress. I鈥檝e created a schedule for myself to maintain a balance that allows me to continue. I don鈥檛 work on Fridays, so most assignments/readings for the upcoming week are done on the Friday before. In completing work early, I usually get to use Friday evenings and Saturdays to do other things I enjoy.

What are some tips or secrets you have for staying organized with a busy schedule?

Tips for staying organized for me include utilizing more than one tool. I have reminders in my phone鈥檚 to do list, my calendar, and my planner. There鈥檚 even a homework tracker app called 鈥淓genda鈥� that a classmate brought to my attention a few semesters ago. I think you have to find what works most naturally for you. Another thing that I do is outline my assignments in my syllabus with different color highlighters to visually see what I鈥檝e completed and what must still be done.

How do you make time for yourself?

Saturdays are mandatory days for myself. It isn鈥檛 something that I negotiate. I work diligently to get my work done on my Fridays, or before, so that I can enjoy my own little break on Saturdays. I also make sure that I read throughout the week at night for myself. These are readings that have nothing to do with class, just other things I am interested in gaining knowledge in.

How do you avoid feeling overwhelmed?

I believe adjusting to anything new can foster a feeling of being overwhelmed. It hasn鈥檛 been a feeling that I鈥檝e been able to avoid completely throughout this journey, especially in the beginning. I don鈥檛 want to paint an unrealistic picture, being overwhelmed is a reality within the balance of a graduate program and other life responsibilities outside of the program.

There will certainly come a time where you truly have to be steadfast in your goals and personal motivation. These feelings are fine. You are human. My way to avoid that, at this point in my journey, is making self-care a nonnegotiable staple. It can be as small as just relaxing and lounging, to planning a quick trip to get away over the weekend. Whatever it is, it is mandatory in the same way I find it mandatory to attend to class and complete assignments.

What support have you received from 海角乱伦?

The 海角乱伦 community is understanding of the life of part time students. You get professors who work with you in the event of emergencies, as well as paying attention to the need for school-life balance. I also have a cohort that was very supportive when my mom passed. A good cohort also helps!

What advice would you give a prospective student who is worried he or she can鈥檛 make grad school work?

I would tell a prospective and current student to be diligent in their pursuit. Make strides to always keep the long term goal in mind. The program is manageable and the community is supportive. Make an effort to stay on top of your work and reach out to your support system when you need to. There is no need to carry stress alone when there are people that can help along this journey.

Don鈥檛 allow yourself to neglect your need for rest and care. It may sound weird, but rest and self care may counter feelings of stress and overload. Combine those things with time management, and you鈥檒l see that it is very manageable.

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