So I'm very aware that there will be lots of obstacles and detours and challenges along my way to getting this degree. And as I learn, I want to share so that those of you who will go for a doctorate can learn from me and not make the same mistakes or hit the same bumps in your road.
Lesson #1 is pretty simple:
Quit your full-time job earlier than you think you should.
No, seriously. I know it seems simple. I thought it would be simple. And I gave myself about 3 weeks. It wasn't enough time.
Quit in mid-July (or earlier if you can afford to) so you have all August to deal with hiccups about your final pay, Zoom accounts and other account access, etc. Trust me. While the pro is I got another check which held me over until I got paid from fellowship, the con is spending unnecessary hours trying to settle these things from another state with limited access to your old accounts (email, payroll, etc).
So take it from me. Quit earlier and save yourself the stress. There are bound to be things that go awry and you don’t want to deal with them while you’re starting a new program and trying to get into a groove there.
It is a headache.
Then add COVID in there too? Now you can’t get in touch with people as readily as you could before. In some ways, I’m still old school where I’d rather just pick up the phone and call folks. But because COVID, no one is in their offices these days so unless they have a phone system set up that will forward to their cells or something else, email is really all you can do.
And after going back and forth with IT departments, HR departments, etc, I’d like to say, “I’m tired now. I think I’ll go on home,” like good ole Forrest Gump.
Y’all have worn this sistah out.
