I got a B in Quantitative Research Analysis, a class I was sure I was going to fail and have to repeat, amid the river of tears I would cry if that had happened. I got a A+ in my favorite professor's class (she also happens to be my advisor, and I am one lucky PhD student for that), and an A- in a class that I couldn't care less about if I had tried. But this semester taught me something - I can do anything, but I can't do everything. Three PhD classes, plus a full-time workload that increasingly challenges me, and a life with a man who makes me have fun no matter what (liver and sleep be damned some nights!), is just too much. I am slowing down my program and graduating a semester or two past what my overly-ambitious goal was. I'm okay with it. It's a journey, not a race. And as I have mentioned, my PhD program does not define me, it only makes a part of who I am.
I am starting my end-of-year reflecting. It was a great year. I had some really great highs - earning my SPHR, making really awesome new friends, kicking @ss at work, and trying to balance my crazy-busy world, and I had some lows - not spending enough time with my favorite person in the world (see: PhD and work/travel) and nearly alienating him, and sweating 3 classes this semester.
But as the year comes to an end, I think I'm in a damn good place. I am rich with friends I never expected to have, I have a wonderful mentor who makes me believe in myself, and best of all, I am married to my best friend, who always makes me believe in myself.
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