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Thursday, November 17, 2005

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Stoker and I have had our first tough moment as a married couple. And it was tough. We’re through it now, and I think we’ll be better for it – because, you know the saying about things that don’t kill you . . . they make you better. I think the original term is stronger, but it may as well be better.

My newest dilemma, which isn’t exactly new, is whether or not I should go back to college. I might have mentioned this before, but it’s getting down to the wire or something like that. If I want to do it, I should apply soon, and if I’m going to apply soon, I’ve got to take the GRE. I already have an M.A., but I only had to take the MAT for that program. The GRE is tougher and more expensive. $200+ or something. Who has that kind of money? And no, I haven’t been saving for it. And no, I haven’t been studying for it. My concern is that I’ll pay to take it and not do well. Or take it and do fairly well and apply to Vanderbilt and then not get in. Why Vanderbilt? Because it looks like we’ll be moving to Nashville in March. That’s where Stoker would like to go for his internship and I support this choice because Nashville is a) not Los Angeles; b) big city, small town feel; c) littered with excellent studios; d) the home of country music and it’s important to get back to your roots (or something). So anyway, Vanderbilt is in Nashville. It sounds good, doesn’t it? The name Vanderbilt. It has a ring to it. It sounds very . . . rich.

Another question you might entertain is why I want to go back to school. And no, it isn’t to get a doctorate. I just want an M.F.A. in creative writing. Even if I’m not a writer (there’s that doubt again). I want to be able to teach in a University, if I’m going to teach at all. I’ll be honest, working at The Garden and teaching the elementary school kids is hard work. The kids, or rather children (because children has a ring to it), have attention spans the size of a pea. And I’m sure this extends all the way to high school, though I was the exception. If I’m going to work for the rest of my life, it’s got to be something I’m mad about, and I’m not mad about working retail for forty years. Though I don’t mind it, it’s not how I want to define my career.

As well, you might wonder why I don’t apply somewhere else and then move when Stoker is done with his internship. When March rolls around, we’ll have lived in the Phoenix area for 8 months. His internship only has to last 2 months. I don’t want to move again in 2 months or even 9 months. That’s too hard on the soul.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to edit your piece, Nashville is not the home of country, it is home of the destruction of good, rooted country. Now that that's straight, I told the this half of the country was cooler

Cinnamon Spider! said...

I'm glad you and Stoker are through the hard time cause that saying is true and it will make you stronger and better.

It made me smile about what you said about children's attention spans. I am no exception as well. I guess it's cause am always tired though.
If you work hard you should do well. That's my theory.

Anonymous said...

Nashville is cool. Except when it's hot. I'm sure you're both considering where you want to be after the internship, and Nashville is as good a place as any for aspiring recordists/sound techs. On the other hand, Vanderbilt is described more accurately as expensive than rich, though some say worth it. Why not a PhD? Would not a PhD be more valuable for a wannabe post-secondary professor?

gary j. introne said...

Yes, I can understand all that - but a part of me thinks that 'more' schooling is NOT the way to go; unless you merely want documentation. I think it has to be lived, more vibrant than the rest. Then it stays electric, stays real, has a flow.

gary introne
http://garyjin.blogspot.com

Nicole said...

I thought I answered these comments yesterday. And the responses were detailed and individually addressed. But I don't have time for that today. Sorry. Thanks for leaving your feedback.