I am truly worried about the upcoming semester and the start of my MSW program at University of Delaware. What happens if I do not have the mental or physical stamina to handle the rigors of the program? I have to entertain that it could be a very real possibility as it is going to be intense. It would be much easier if I had a car and could drive to campus but I don’t Instead, I have to rely on public transportation which easily turns what would be a half hour commute into an hour plus.
Here is what my schedule is going to look like. On Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, I will have practicum which runs from 9:00am – 3:00pm. In order to arrive in time for practicum, my day will probably have to start at 7:00am. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will have class from 5:00pm – 9:15pm. By the time I get home it’s going to be pretty late. Sleep is going to be a luxury and I am no spring chicken anymore at 48 years old. You can see that I am concerned. The path to the MSW is impossibly long if not done full time.
I guess I can make up for lost sleep on Monday and Wednesday nights. But I still have to work part time on the weekends. This is not going to be easy, and even that, is the understatement of the year. I am so worried that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew but the only way I’ll know this is for sure is if I try and do not succeed. I am in brainstorming mode to try to set myself up for the maximum chance at success.
I think if I can get the textbooks and begin my studies ahead of time, I can make hay while the sun shines and provide some stress relief once the semester begins in earnest. Getting ahead of the curve would probably be a good idea. I am headed to campus on Monday to pick up my student ID and to get a lay of the land to relieve some stress. I want to stop at the College of Education and Human Development to see what’s going on there and ask about course scheduling. This may relieve some anxiety so that my first day isn’t spent scrambling around.
Hey wait a second …. It just dawned on me that I have access to paratransit. Maybe if I planned accordingly, I could use paratransit to get me where I have to go and thus the commute time could be cut down some. I could possibly use it strategically. Yeah! If I scheduled a paratransit pickup when class is over, I could, in theory, get home by 10, be in bed by 11 and get enough sleep in time to use paratransit to get me to practicum. Okay!!!! Problem solved. Now I can smile a little. I know that was random (and a little scattered) but I have a solution. I can use paratransit to fill in the gaps where the regular bus wouldn’t serve my needs.
Okay, my anxiety is significantly reduced now.