Grateful

My life has been rough lately. I am stressed, sleep-deprived, and unable to function well. This year is my second attempt at applying to grad school programs, and the journey has been anything but easy. I have to keep retaking the GRE, write multiple essays (even just for one school!), and conduct original mixed-methods research for my writing sample. On top of that, I have to work.

I work in the development sector, and as you may know, the field is currently facing budget constraints. As a result, I've had to take on multiple roles, to say the least.

It's so hard... Really hard. I want to get everything done, but I also want to give it my best.

But it's just so hard.

I know this is what I've always wanted to do ever since I graduated from college. But why is it so hard to pursue knowledge?

Despite all of this, I'm not completely alone this year. I have people around me who help me get through the process. The two closest are my mom, who's always supportive and checks in on me, and my boyfriend, who flew all the way from his country to stay in the same city as me. I also have tutors who help me make progress with my exam.

I just wanted to thank them for giving me constant moral support, even though some of their presence is kind of transactional, lol. But still, I know they're genuinely nice people. Whenever I reach out to them when I'm stuck, they listen and give thoughtful advice.

300 words may not be enough to express my gratitude for the people who've been kind to me this year. But I'm forever grateful for their presence in my life, especially during these rough patches.