The downside of intelligence...
On Saturday I received a letter in the mail from my college. The letter explained that because of my "high academic average" I am eligible to apply for the school's Honors program. At first I was a little awestruck and proud of myself, but then, after I finished reading the letter, I realized that this was yet another stressful task to add to my to-do list. First of all, I have to fill out a form with all of the basic info about myself and then I have to write an essay indicating my educational plans and leadership skills and how they will fit into my career goal. Leadership skills? Pffft! My dog doesn't even listen to me when I tell her to lay down. Anyway, I'm sure I could managed to squeeze out an essay by rambling (I'm quite good at that, you know) about my educational plans but the letter says nothing about how long this essay should be. Is one page too little? Is two pages sufficient?! AGH!
In addition to the essay I have to send an evaluation form to two of my professors so they can pick me apart. This would not be so difficult if I lived near the college, but since I take all of my classes online and the college is well over an hour away (and I am not making a trip out there just for this), I will have to mail the forms to the professors and hope they get them and have enough time to fill them out and mail them back to the Honors program director before January 20th because that is the deadline for everything, and I only received the paperwork on Saturday! I feel so rude sending a recommendation request to my teachers along with a note asking them to hurry it up. Gah!
The other problem is that, if I were accepted to the program, I would be required to do three extra classes, one in each of my remaining semesters starting with this one. I think basically those classes would involve working "one on one" (via email) with a professor (of my choice I believe, but what if I choose one and they don't want to work with me? Can they refuse? Agh!) on a topic related to my major and I think the other two classes are basically the same thing.
Of course it would be great to say I graduated with honors, but I just don't know if all of this extra work is really worth it or not. And just when I was looking forward to having one less class than I did last semester! Oy!
I know the whole point of an honors program is to challenge one's self and I know it would be the wise thing to do from an academic stand point but sometimes I feel as though I have already stretched myself too thin. Walking away from the situation and not at least trying to get accepted seems foolish though.
You would think at the age of 24 I would have learned that things can't be easy, there is always a catch or a hassle of some sort when anything good comes along. Why can't I just accept that?
Updated to say: HEY! I thought I was putting forth effort to not complain in this journal so much? Oops. I will try harder next time.
In addition to the essay I have to send an evaluation form to two of my professors so they can pick me apart. This would not be so difficult if I lived near the college, but since I take all of my classes online and the college is well over an hour away (and I am not making a trip out there just for this), I will have to mail the forms to the professors and hope they get them and have enough time to fill them out and mail them back to the Honors program director before January 20th because that is the deadline for everything, and I only received the paperwork on Saturday! I feel so rude sending a recommendation request to my teachers along with a note asking them to hurry it up. Gah!
The other problem is that, if I were accepted to the program, I would be required to do three extra classes, one in each of my remaining semesters starting with this one. I think basically those classes would involve working "one on one" (via email) with a professor (of my choice I believe, but what if I choose one and they don't want to work with me? Can they refuse? Agh!) on a topic related to my major and I think the other two classes are basically the same thing.
Of course it would be great to say I graduated with honors, but I just don't know if all of this extra work is really worth it or not. And just when I was looking forward to having one less class than I did last semester! Oy!
I know the whole point of an honors program is to challenge one's self and I know it would be the wise thing to do from an academic stand point but sometimes I feel as though I have already stretched myself too thin. Walking away from the situation and not at least trying to get accepted seems foolish though.
You would think at the age of 24 I would have learned that things can't be easy, there is always a catch or a hassle of some sort when anything good comes along. Why can't I just accept that?
Updated to say: HEY! I thought I was putting forth effort to not complain in this journal so much? Oops. I will try harder next time.