Month one...

So, I've made it through the first month of graduate school. This means that I have made it past the point I did the first time around. To be frank, sometimes I thought I wouldn't actually make it. That I would freak out the same way that I did when I tried out Tufts University six years ago. Thankfully, I am older and have faced much more difficult times than handling heavy loads of homework. I look at my schedule and know that although it is tough, I can definitely manage it.

School is school. As of yet, nothing is applied to the real world. We are in our safety net. Relying on each other to run tests and interview like we would a client. This is simple, for we are all well individuals. Last week, however, I had my first taste of real-life intervention when I attended a group meeting for people with mental illness. I will not reveal any of the stories or the diagnoses, but I will say that it is really humbling to be around a group of people who battle to act "normal" every day. I feel that since I quit my old job, my life has been fantastic and I have managed with little struggle. I got through the tough spots with a lot of patience and turned out stronger because of it. Some are not so lucky when going through bad times. Although I know what "bad times" feels like, I wonder if I can actually relate to this population enough to earn their trust.

After all, books can only teach you so much.

I am not saying that a connection is unlikely, I'm just curious what my education will teach me about how to relate to those who few understand.