Quick Tips for Surviving Grad School

• Recognize your resources: family, friends, professors, libraries, computer labs, and your brain!
• Advocate for your beliefs
• Get Plenty of Sleep (when you can)
• Budget! Budget! Budget! (Pack a lunch, buy books from classmates, etc.)
• Speak to your professors as often as you can
• Create a contact list with the names and phone numbers of at least two people in each of your classes
• Ask as many questions as you need to develop an understanding of what is being taught
• Become best friends with the staff in student services/registration office
• Don't procrastinate
• Be involved with student organizations
• Of course, study!
• VISIT THE WRITING CENTER, everyone and anyone can work to improve their writing skills
• Balance your work and life by setting time aside for family and friends. Do not isolate yourself!
• But really, just LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND HAVE FUN DOING SO! You will only experience this program once. Take advantage of all that you can.
  

What a day...what a day

Today was especially long and I am feeling rather drained! Although we had a thought provoking discussion on cognitions and beliefs as related to treatment and causes of mental disorders in my morning class, my afternoon class seemed to last forever. My professor reported on some valuable findings from his research on school violence. I found it way difficult to manage sitting in a three hour lecture interpreting such findings, however. I am such a huge advocate for group work and dialogue during class time. After a while, I was fighting hard to further engage in the lecture by asking questions, maintaining eye contact with the professor, and thinking about how I could consider this research in practice as a school social worker. While I'm thinking about it, I will share one important finding from his research- It is likely that school climate, school structure, and the community in which the school exists greatly impact the severity of school violence as opposed to family composition and SES. Isn't that interesting! Based on these findings and due to more obvious reasons, more intervention is needed within the school system itself. Boy, is my work cut out for me! What a great way to implement some macro level work.

Even though I had a long day, attending two meetings, two classes, and currently preparing to work on my final assignments, I've acquired a heap of knowledge that I can use in practice as a school social worker! Yea!

getting excited

I am so excited about having a winter break. I'm going to read for fun, explore, and hopefully utilize my time wisely. I have to say though, I will miss class immensely. They have been fabulous this semester and I have to say I am much much happier. The teachers I have this semester are amazing, well read, great teachers. I am pushed in ways I didn't know were possible, and learning what feels like new languages. (Granted, some times it's difficult...but invaluable.) gotta get back to work....the excitement con'ts later

Starbucks here I come...Gotta get this work done!

I am sitting in STARBUCKS sipping on my second Grande, non-fat, white-chocolate mocha, with TWO shots of espresso wondering if my body has an increased tolerance for caffeine. After being here for 4 hours, I am desperately trying to stay awake so that I can finish one of many assignments I have due within the next few weeks. However, coffee doesn't seem to be working. I am feeling really sleepy. Hopefully, this second cup of coffee will keep me awake for the next few hours. Or, maybe I should try drinking tea (it's cheaper and healthier).

Often times, I find myself doing what I have to do in order to accomplish all that I can each day. Anything to avoid procrastinating! Although I've procrastinated a few times, it was not worth the anxiety and pressure I experienced finishing a paper hours before it was due. Save your self from the stress...start your work early and who cares if you have to drink caffeine to stay awake days before an assignment is due. After all, you can treat yourself and be in bed by midnight the night before the assignment is due ;-).

It's All About Networking

There is nothing like attending a USC School of Social Work homecoming event where you have the opportunity to meet up with some alumni who are working professionals in the field of social work. While the ambience was set for fun, laughter, and some good ol' Trojan spirit, it was also an ideal place to chat with USC alumni about possible jobs following graduation. More than that, there was opportunity to speak with the dean and other administrators about school related issues and topics regarding future planning.

Get prepared to attend the tailgates....have your contact information handy and networking hats ready to wear! You know what they say..." It's all about who you know ..."

My Bittersweet Weekend

Our Homecoming weekend was absoulutely awesome....Full of Trojan spirit....and sleepless nights as I try to prepare for finals. Balancing finals, internship, process recordings, my RA position, and caucus responsibilities has left me completely tired this weekend. Take some advice plan ahead and finish all your process recordings early to avoid the pain I'm going through. : )

COPE (Creating Opportunities for Positive Experiences)

At one of my internship school sites, my colleague and I have developed a prevention program for elementary school aged children named COPE (Creating Opportunities for Positive Experiences). Each Monday, we visit K-5 grade classrooms and present on different topics that will help to build resiliency among these children. Some of the topics in include "Knowing the Self", "Emotional Intelligence", and of course "Peer Relationships." After long hours of work on the 10-week curriculum, we are proud to say that during our first session last week, the children were extremely receptive and elated about participating in the COPE program as evidence of them engaging and asking in-depth questions. Upon exiting one of the third grade classrooms, a student yelled, "Ms. Cope, I have one more question." She quickly corrected herself, and stated my actual name. I assume the point was well communicated about the meaning of "COPE", so much that one student unconsciously thought to call me "Ms. Cope."

Who knows...the COPE curriculum may become this mass production for prevention work with elementary students across the world...Copyrights to be established. What a graduate education at the USC School of Social Work can do for you! Explore your options, be creative, and serve!

Feeling Tired...Wearing many different hats

Tired ain't the word...I AM EXAUSTED! Just as soon as I completed hours of work on my midterms, I am getting more tired from thinking about all I have to do to get through finals. Not only that, I have to spend all weekend helping my 7 year-old finish his first science project for school. And let me not forget to take my husband's clothes to the cleaners, clean the house, do the laundry, and shop for groceries. Does anyone want to make a donation to help me pay for a trip to the spa? :-) Or, any other stress reduction techniques in mind? Oh yea, I suppose I can take a walk on the beach and do some deep breathing exercises. I think I'll go to the gym and jog off my feelings of anxiety and fatigue. Oh, I know of a really cheap way of reducing some of my stress...SLEEP. Yea, that should do it. I'll sleep in tomorrow morning and be sure to be in bed by 10pm tomorrow night.

Being a graduate student, mom, and wife takes a lot of endurance, strength, and determination! But, there are ways to cope with wearing all of these hats- you just have to take the student hat off temporarily and place it back on when it's time to study, write papers, attend classes, and associate among you school peers, professors, and at internship. In turn, it is important not to forget that your other hats in life cannot be removed, not even temporarily.

The principle of self-care is significant for all people, especially as a social work graduate student. Use it!

Diary of a Social Work Student- mother, wife, etc.

About grades... I WANT ALL "As"

Why are people still trying to convince me that grades aren’t all that important in graduate school unless you plan to get a Ph.D.? Regardless of my plan to get a Ph.D. ONE DAY, I still think it is essential to get the best grades possible in all of my classes. The reason(s) why I believe grades are important is because they represent (1) HOW WELL YOU HAVE MASTERED THE MATERIAL, and demonstrate (2) YOUR EFFORT, as well as (3) BOOST YOUR CONFINDENCE AND RAISE YOUR SENSE OF SELF-EFFICACY.

One may argue that giving letter grades are rather objective. However, there are no other methods of evaluating our work. I do not believe that there is a correlation between grades and the number of job offers you get post graduate school, nor do I agree that grades tell the "whole story." We as students stand for so much more than a GPA, but does it not feel good to graduate with honors and have a star next to your name in the graduation program, or wear that special gold cord around you neck. The message is...WORK TO YOUR GREATEST POTENTIONAL...and do not settle for anything less.

Being a graduate student is really about mastering the course material and a getting the best grades is one way to show proof that you have done so. In order to get all As, you must ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS, ADVOCATE for yourself, and READ!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, that means that there ain't much partying going on either. Just a tip or two about how to get As in graduate school. How do you feel about grades?

-Social Work Diary "Nerd" ;-)

"You think you know...But you have no idea:" Diary of a USC Social Work Student

Becoming a social work student at the USC School of Social Work is one of the most valuable experiences I've had in life thus far. Not only have I learned much about the world of social work, I have also acquired more knowledge about myself and the world in which we live!

Growing up in a society where inequality and injustices roamed about my presence, I have witnessed first hand what a poor education system looks like; the characteristics of community violence and it's aftermath; and issues having to do with family, abuse, welfare, teenage pregnancy, and so forth. In fact, I was one of few who weathered the storm and prevailed. As a teenage mom, I quickly learned to seek out my resources, both internal and external, as a means of survival. As a result, I was able to overcome the many challenges, believe in myself, and develop a more clear understanding of my life goals. Thus, I went on to graduate from USC with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology, with honors.

After gaining support from peer group, colleagues, family, and from MYSELF, I realized that I needed to further my education to accomplish my goals. My personal life and professional experience in the field of education, social work, and higher education lead me to learn of my passion for social work. Here I am...pursing my life dream. And you've noticed one thing in common through out this brief history of my recent years of life- I AM WHERE I AM TODAY BECAUSE SOMEONE SUPPORTED ME WITH THE INTENTION FOR ME TO HELP MYSELF. In turn, I must reach out to many more that wait for a helping hand so that they can believe and acknowledge their ability to assist themselves.

Being a part-time social work student here at USC has provided me with the tools necessary for implementing quality, clinical social work practice. I am currently in my third and final year pursuing excellence in the area of school social work. I have therefore chosen to be in the mental health concentration while obtaining a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC), which is required to do social work in schools.

To learn more about my passion for social work and what it is like to be a social work student here at USC, I invite you to post a question, comment, or concern!

-Social Work Diary

computer meltdowns and such

it's amazing how much we become dependent on material possessions. Sometimes I would like to reject it all and move to Montana (or maybe I can just start living in my (hopeful) simple living intentional community, now!) My laptop had a meltdown...just as I was starting it to finish a paper...DUE THAT DAY! How much did I hate myself at that moment? After long hours of trying to fix it, I gave up and bought a new hard drive. Lucky for me it started one more time so I could back up my data. Word to the wise: Back up data.

Classes are finally starting to slow down long enough for me to s*@!, shower, and sleep. Man do I feel better. Seriously, there was a three or four day period when I definitely didn't shower and was running off an IV drip of coffee. Good thing I work in Downtown/Skid Row...where they don't care what I smell or look like.

Election day: I'm afraid to watch tv in fear that it would confirm that we still have a Republican Governor (referred by Fertig as our "Governator") and all the Props did not go the way I hoped. Young women would lose rights, the tax payer lobbyists have won, I would still have to watch lying political propaganda on tv (and thus, continually be reminded of how much we believe the lies we see on tv...damn those lying tax lobbyists.) Ok...really though, I should not gripe since I really don't know if this is the case. Hope...hope...remember to hope.

Economics huh?

Okay....So I already have to register for my Spring semester courses. Never did I imagine that I would be having to choose between Economics and Cross Sectoral Government. I mean really, who takes those courses....well I guess I do. Ah, the world of public administration is quite interesting isn't it. In addition to dealing with the selection of courses I am starting to suffer from feelings of grief and loss. Lets just say that as much as midterms and finals are super challenging I ultimately don't want to leave graduate school yet.