RE: When the going gets tough

["Patty Ralrick" <pattyralrick@hotmail.com>]

Jessica,

I can truly relate to how you are feeling.  After around six years in 
college, I am about to graduate with my bachelors in Geology.  It has been 
an enormously long and hard road.  This semester alone I've had to wade 
through such classes as Physics, Statistics, and Calculus.  The thing that 
I've done to keep myself going is keep my eye on the prize.  I've covered my 
dorm room with dinosaur items and pictures of me in the field (where I am 
happiest).  Usually, after flinging my Calculus book across the room in 
frustration, I'll sit and look through a photo album of museums I've visited 
and paleo people I've met to help keep me on track.  I know that it sounds 
silly, but it has actually helped me tremendously.

Also, once you're in your Geology or Biology classes, you'll meet other 
people in the same boat.  While none of my Geology buddies are going into 
paleo, we still all had to take the same classes and could commiserate 
together.  I've made some good friends there.

So don't give up, Jessica.  It is a lot of hard work, but keep in mind just 
how worthwhile it will all be when you're finally done and can get on with 
what you really want to do.  I hope that this wasn't too sappy and that it 
was helpful.

Sincerely,

Patty

***********************************************************
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail,
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
  Kipling, "The Female of the Species"

Patty Ralrick
Montana State University
100 Johnstone Hall Room 305
Bozeman,  MT  59715-5076



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