Three more years

I found out yesterday morning that I have been accepted into the PhD program for Counselor Education. My interview was Wednesday and so this all happened very quickly and I was pretty surprised to hear back so soon!
I am still in disbelief and the details are starting to sink in. It's an odd feeling for me because I do feel very young to be taking on such a "big deal" kind of thing. I never thought that at 23 I would be preparing to enter yet another academic program. My parents have always joked that I am a professional student and it seems that they have me figured out. There are so many things that I am excited about with this program. I'm going to get to take on a new role as a counselor looking at things from a different angle. The emphasis on research will certainly push me to think of things in more outcome oriented ways.
One of the best things about this program is that I have been guaranteed a full-time assistantship which means that I won't need to worry about how everything will get paid for. Having that off my mind is a huge relief and is letting me focus on the planning aspect of things. What will my cognate be? What classes will I be taking in the fall? How are things going to be different making the shift from a master's program to a doc program? I'm anxious and excited about all of this. I feel ready for the challenge that I know I will get in this program and I'm proud of myself for making it this far.
It's an odd feeling to be at the beginning of such a huge amount of work and learning, but its an thrilling one. Who knows what I will be like in three years time. I am so thankful for this opportunity.
And...I'll be able to continue knitting in class! :)
My goal for the weekend is to get a few knitting pictures posted since I haven't posted much knitting content this year. Jered and I will be celebrating this weekend, he recently got a new job, and is preparing for the transition this coming week (he starts Friday). There have been plenty of positive changes lately and it feels like things are finally starting to fall into place.

...!!!!

I got in! More later, still in disbelief :)

Interview

So just three weeks after turning in my application to the Ph.D. program, I had my interview. It was intense! Jered helped me prepare last night and I am really glad that I took the interview seriously and prepared for it as much as we did. Everyone in the clinic has been telling me not to worry about the application process and that I have a great shot at getting in...but there is something about that that is unsettling to me. It's one thing to have confidence in someone, but another to assume that you are "in." I'm just not comfortable doing that, especially not with something that is this important to me.
I thought the interview went fairly well. I was really nervous which I think influenced the organization of my answers. In my head I had everything planned out and ready to say, but my nerves did get the best of me and I felt like I was babbling on a few times. At this point it doesn't make much sense mulling over how I thought it went. This part of the application process is over and it is now out of my hands. I did the best I could, and if my work so far has made a positive impression on them, then I think that I could very well make it into the program. Gosh I hope so. I want this really badly.
Wish me luck! I'll keep you posted!