Why Clemson?

Choosing to attend a school out of state was quite the decision.  I mean, we're talking leaving my family and friends and the life I knew.  It took quite a bit for me to come to my decision, but eventually, yes, I did choose a school in the Carolinas.

I first visited Clemson in June 2012 while vacationing in SC.  I sort of came across the campus on accident, but ended up really liking it.  I did some quick searching on the university website and found that the school had a program that couldn't have been any more perfect for me had it been named "Ashley Really Wants to Teach."  I was a little put off - how could this random school just happen to have something so ideal for me?  Was this a sign?  I kept telling myself that if Clemson had such a program, other schools must as well.  I joked with many people that I was "totally going to move down to SC for school," but quite frankly I didn't really think that would ever happen.  It just didn't seem like something I would ever do.

Soon after my initial internet searches and website findings, I decided to send a short message to the e-mail address listed on the program website.  Within minutes I received a response with the name and contact information for the program director I would soon talk with on a regular basis.  Before I could even start asking her questions, said program director reached out to me after receiving notification of my original message to the department.  (To save everyone a ton of time, I will refrain from telling you how great I think my program director is. Instead I'll just make sure you know that she is AMAZING!)  We exchanged e-mails and had numerous phone conversations over the next few months.  I quickly learned about a scholarship associated with the program, and was encouraged to apply.  I also found out that, although the program was still new at CU, each graduate had found job placement!  I started really becoming interested in the school because, frankly, the Clemson faculty and staff did their jobs very well!  I started wanting to make Clemson want me.  I even took a class last fall at a community college to make my application to Clemson more appealing as I lacked some of the encouraged BIO credits.

I eventually applied and interviewed with the school for the program and scholarship.  I was able to submit the maximum amount of recommendation letters thanks to the support of many individuals.  I interviewed via Skype since I was a few states away, which was a very interesting experience.  The virtual interview was actually the program director's idea, so I didn't even have to feel bad about not being able to be at the school in person.  The interview went really well, though.

Clemson wasn't the only school to accept me, but it was the first and it was always my top choice.  Soon after I was accepted, I visited the campus again and made plans to meet in person with the program director and several faculty members.  I spent an entire day with many individuals and felt right at home (plus they also told me that I had been chosen as a recipient of the scholarship).  It was the first day in a while I had really felt like smiling.  That feeling alone was amazing!

I ended up returning home not having made a decision.  I talked with my parents about my visit to Clemson and told them all about the people I met and how much fun I had.  I also talked to them about my worries about leaving my family and how sad it made me feel to be away from my nieces and nephew.  I went back and forth deciding whether or not I thought I could handle being in another state.  I continued to remain "undecided"as I didn't want to make a decision while still on a travel high and later regret it.  Truth be told, though, I was way in love with CU and couldn't really think about anything else.  I knew it had to be a special school for me to even consider going that far from home.

Regardless, I tried to continue to think about other schools.  I went back to work and tried to fall back into the swing of things, but completely failed.  I was MISERABLE.  I knew I had left my heart in Clemson and wanted to go back and start getting ready for school.  I tried to deal with these crappy feelings for a couple of days, but I eventually ended up just calling the program director at Clemson to tell her that I'd be seeing her again in May and that I was honored to be part of such an outstanding program.

Studies of a Graduate Student

The idea of graduate school isn't really new for me.  See below.

I posted this, as you read, in late November 2011 (although I had thought about it many times before that, even as an undergrad at CMU).  This wasn't too long after my first contract position at Dow came to an end.  I was feeling very strange about my life and knew I wanted it to change.  I started to look into programs and schools slightly, but was pretty convinced I was just going to re-enroll at CMU - I mean, I knew the program and everyone I'd be working with, so it just seemed appropriate.

I started working at Dow again the following February, so I delayed the searching.  I went through some highs and lows in this position, but seriously started looking into schools again in the summer of 2012.  I talked with my would-be faculty advisor at CMU and was really pumped to explore some research opportunities involving science olympiad.  I talked with the faculty member in charge of graduate admissions to the department at the school and was sadly informed that the program I was looking to apply for was being eliminated.  Apparently it didn't matter that one could still request information about the program and apply online to the program. 

I moved on because it was very clear to me at that point that I did in fact not want to give any more money to my alma mater.  Pretty sad, too, as I would have poured my heart into the school once again.  I could have followed another degree path with the university, but it wouldn't be fulfilling my initial dream of studying secondary education. I refused to change my goals just to keep things familiar and comfortable.  I started looking seriously into other schools at this point.  I only looked at schools that had programs suited for me so I wouldn't get my hopes up again.

So anyway, I eventually applied to a few schools, got some acceptance letters, and now I'm a student at Clemson University!

The Trip of All Trips

Route Options for the Trip

I'm what I'd like to consider a frequent traveler.  I'm definitely the type of person to drive across the state for an event or drive an hour to meet a friend for lunch and to do some shopping.  I also very much dislike flying in airplanes, so the only option was to drive to my new home.

Both routes shown in the image above have about a 12-13 hour estimated travel time.  I know myself well enough to bring a buddy along for the ride so that I do not have to spend so many hours alone with my thoughts.

I made this trip for the first time in early March with a friend from work.  I decided to split the trip down since we didn't leave MI until early evening.  As that ended just shy of disaster, I had no plans to stop to sleep along the way at any point in the future.

My standard road trip buddy Eric was available for the move, so again I didn't have to make the trip alone.  It took me almost an entire day to pack my car for the trip, but I did manage to shove something into every gap possible.  See below.

The car only sat a little lower.

Eric and I took turns driving so as to make the trip "go faster."  We stopped a few times for food, restroom, and stretch breaks along the way - in total the trip took us a little less than 14 hours.  We averaged about 35 mpg with all the extra weight, which is pretty decent as I averaged about 37 mpg with an empty car last month.

Rusty has now successfully made the trip down to SC twice.  He soon will have new registration and a pretty new plate, but for now I'm still the annoying out-of-state driver who mistakes a turn lane for a passing lane for 500+ feet.

The Start of a New Beginning

Readers,

I appreciate your interest in my blog.  It is with excitement and joy that I welcome you and further invite you to join me as I document my experiences as a graduate student at Clemson University.  Although I cannot predict the types of posts you will find should you continue to visit this domain, I can tell you that all will have worth.

Welcome.  =)

Regards,
Ashley