Hi group, [if you want the end... go down to the stars at the bottom]

I know that I can always count on you all to make life better. I have some really exciting news and wanted someone to share it with. The bf is at work, my parents are well... occupied with other things (my mother is disabled and my father is a horrible business man, so there is always some sort of horrible tension when I call home).

To give you a little background story, I am GRADUATING on December 13 (finally!!! only 4.5 years). It's been a rough road. I have put myself through school via 2 academic scholarships and a rowing scholarship. After graduating I am doing my master's degree.

Here's where the exciting news come in...
I was planning on doing my PhD and masters with this one professor (let's call him Bob) for the past year. I have worked in his lab and enjoy the work very much. Something to be proud of is that I would be the only American in the Lab and only one of two women. Another thing is that my master's and PhD would be completely paid for plus a living stipend. Over time, I have just had this bad feeling that I would be getting into something that would not be good for later in life. When going back to the lab to confirm all of the information (payment, etc) , I received this horrible vibe from from him. [he also told me that my education would never match up to that of his international students] After talking with another professor who I trust completely, he confirmed that joining Bob's lab would not be the best thing. I told Bob on wednesday that I would not be joining him for the PhD program. His first response was that he agreed because he didn't think that I would have made it anyway! I was furious. He continued with stories of other Americans who had failed, and how Americans dont understand the value of a PhD. I interrupted and told him that he knows my hard work ethic and that I hope to keep him as a contact in the future. We left agreeably!

**** Happy part:
So I have been left with a need to pay $17k for tuition for just this upcoming semester (this doesn't include the need for my fall semester too).. so basically i needed $30k to finish out my schooling. I found out that a new professor (who is biomedical stuff, which I want to do) needs help with research. He offered me a position in his lab today that will cover my tuition. In addition, he is very connected in the biomedical field!!! YAY for being able to go to school and not have to pack up and go home!!!

I wanted to tell someone because I just found it out. I called the parents, and they couldn't talk (I haven't even told them that I quit the other lab, so it was going to be huge news).


Thanks for always being here!