Nobody told me Grad School would be this stressful

When I decided to go for my postgrad, I researched and prepared for my relocation to a new country. One little thing, I did not prepare for the actual studies involved in the postgrad. I know, right?

So it did not come as a shock when I finally relocated only to struggle with school in my first semester. It is and was different, now not just because I was in a new country but because I had no idea what I was doing academically, at least, at first. It got better, to be fair. I’d like to think I’m fairly smart but walaii I was stressed, especially when you combine it with working part-time. So let me be the first to burst your bubble and tell you squarely that graduate school is stressful as fvck.

So if you’re preparing to go abroad for your postgrad, here are some things you should know:

1. You would write and write and write LITERALLY. From reports to essays to presentations, in fact, I think it should be a prerequisite. You should really learn how to write and read too. Not passive, at a glance, kind of reading but actual active reading with note taking. Practice writing out your thoughts in constructive sentences like what I am doing now.

4. You’re not an island o, you need people. Students that will study with you, people you’d call when you’re frustrated and after the conversation you’d feel inspired. Study groups or friends or whatever you want to call it. I repeat, you can’t do it alone. Find your academic tribe irrespective of whether you’re an introvert or not.

5. I don’t know where you’re from but if you’re from where I’m from, it’s not normal practice to interact with your lecturers. Newsflash, you need to unlearn that practice, speak to your lecturers, make sure they know you, ask questions, send emails. You’d need them for future references especially for work, if they don’t know you, they can’t vouch for you.

6. 90 if not 100% of your work is done on your laptop. You need a reliable device. Don’t be like me that had a laptop who died in her sleep (A minute of silence for my laptop that was born in 2012 and died in 2021)Rest in peace, my love. Buy good devices that will serve you throughout your time in school, at least.

7. Forget hardcopy textbooks, you do not necessarily need them. Everything is online now thankfully. I would say we are past the age of buying enormous books to read, you do not need to pollute the environment with your paper. The reading materials are mostly e-copies now, at least from my own experience.

Did I miss out any? Let me know in the comments. Don’t forget to clap and follow me. I follow back asap…xx

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