Done

Although I graduated on Sat, and could offically put the MPH after my name (doesn't that have a nice ring to it), I wasn't completely done. This morning I had a final, my one and only final. Ignoring this final, I was actually done last tuesday. But no, I had to take a final. It was easy. Some of the questions were hard to figure out, since the person who wrote it was the TA ( or in Berkeley speak, GSI - Graduate Student Instructor) and english is her second language. Now mind you , I am not ragging on her. Her english is much better than my spanish. I wouldn't even consider trying to write a test in spanish. However, the teacher should have taken some leadership and proofread the test to make sure that the english is proper so all of us in the class can understand what the questions meant. This class was taught in english after all. Oh, well. I answered everything, I took 1 1/2 hours of the available three hours,and...........I am done. I have no more class work to do. I don't have to study any more.

What a lot of work these past two years have been. I think I put more work into this last single year, than I did for my entire undergraduate degree. And of course, I couldn't skimp. Nope, not me. I needed 48 units to graduate (semester units for those Davis people out there) I have 66. Not once did I take less that 15 units a semester. Sigh, I do like torturing myself. And, to think , I am considering a DrPh. The description is so cool. The program is designed for people who want to be professionals, not academics. I quote, from the berkeley website, "Specifically, the proposed Leadership Program will combine traditional academic preparation with practical leadership training to form a bridge for academic-practice collaboration. Upon completing this Leadership Program, students will be prepared to assume leadership roles nationally and globally throughout the public health system to improve the health of communities, reduce health disparities, develop the health and public health infrastructure, and serve diverse populations." Doesn't that sound exactly like what I want to do??

But don't you all worry. They want, at least, two years post-master's degree experience in the real world before they accept you. Then, if I get in, I have taken all of the required class. I would need to take 48 units over 3 or 4 years, but that is nothing compared to what I have done over the past 2 years. And, here's the kicker, there's funding. I would get paid to do this and I wouldn't pay tuition. I wouldn't have to go into debt, or at least high amounts of debt to do this program and I would get a doctorate. So I wouldn't be such a horrible, anti-social, lock myself into a closet person. I wouldn't have to put so much of my life on hold like I have been doing for the past two years. Although, you all would have to put up with my studing for orals during sewing circle, if that is still going on in 5 years.

But, that is in the future. For now, I have three letters after my name and all I need is a job. I'll get one, no worries. And, for those that forgot I existed during the past two years, I can get my social life back on track,once again.

And I should also say, thanks to everyone for your support. I couldn't have survived without the knowledge that my friends and family were behind me 100% and that you respected my decision to do this and the fact that it changed the nature of our relationships. You were there when I needed you (and I hope to do the same in the future for others.)

C.L., MPH