Challenges Facing the Graduate Student Essay

The m all challenges that face the potential down students may cut back them from taking that first step to enrolling in refine school. This paper leave alone cerebrate on personal challenges for this writer and strategies she testament use to outperform them. both(prenominal) challenges for this writer are working full-time, being pecuniaryly accountable for others while maintaining a mortgage and family responsibilities. Time management and a enlightened regarding some computer programs also provide other challenges. Many obstacles birth to be conquered in an run to ensure success.Hardin (2008) contends these barriers often put her at a greater risk for being unsuccessful. The pur stand by for this writer entrance tweak study is the hope of expanding her career opportunities to include teaching at the undergraduate level. Her motivation to sink to school was two-fold. A divorce and a lengthy recovery following a work-related injury within a year inspired thoughts of facing the future being financially single-handed and wondering if the recovery would be without limitations to allow a return to bedside nursing.These emotional state changes prompted soul searching and re-motivated this writer to pursue a graduate degree, a goal that had been set several years prior. As a graduate student this writer faces the challenges encompassed with being an adult. Over the past 30 years, in that respect has been an escalation of students, primarily women, entering graduate study. According to Hardin (2008) the motivation for many women to return to school is usually centered on a major heart change. These women usually return to college in an effort to support their families.Balancing commitments, such(prenominal) as work, life, school and other responsibilities create a stressor to the student and pose even much challenges. As the sole provider for two children and trustworthy for other financial costs that entail, this writer works full-time on th e nightshift. Traditionally compensation on nightshift is more than tralatitious work schedules. Although financially this helps alleviate one stress for this writer, another stress is created, lack of slumber. catnap deprivation, fatigue and sleepiness negatively affect function that often results in decreased productivity (Mulgrew, 2007).This writer believes working nightshift and facing the sleeping challenge poses a potential barrier to success. Based on 2004 statistics, approximately 15% of Americans work nontraditional work schedules (Chung, Wolf, Shapiro, 2009). Adan and Natale (2002) also found that the relationship in the midst of gender and shift work support the thought women are more morning types, preferring to retire to sleep earlier and rise sooner, which results in best mental performance. This writer believes this to be true of her.In an effort to get word the challenge of time management, she will keep an accurate calendar and place all appointments, work sc hedule, and other commitments. Blocking out hours of the day to focus on schoolwork as well as ensuring enough sleep while pursuing personal goals such as exercise should gain ground quality work. Procrastination is times enemy. A a few(prenominal) proceedings of effective planning will save time in the end. This involves a continual assessment and reassessment of priorities and activities (Spidal, 2009). Financial stressors also affect the graduate student.Hardin (2008) found lack of financial support may actually clog an adult from enrolling in graduate school. The adult student often differs from the traditional student as her financial needs often include a mortgage and childcare. Working nightshift helps alleviate the financial deficit for this writer as nightshift pays a differential. Many nurses, including myself, will work extra shifts to offset the financial burden. Attending classes may inhibit the overtime opportunity, therefore smaller paychecks land to the existing financial load.A graduate student has to weigh the benefits of an learning when after graduation her financial debt will increase (Morgenthaler, 2009). In an effort to minimize the loan criterion, this writer researched loans and scholarships. She consulted her employer and found there were a few scholarships available in addition to education reimbursement. The scholarship amounts are monetarily limited. Some also require a commitment to continuing employment for a set number of years per scholarship. Despite these caveats, any amount of money is helpful to decrease the debt as well as ensuring longer employment. some other challenge facing this writer is she has never used PowerPoint in any arena. This may lead to a feeling of inadequacy. To neutralize this deficit she will ensure access to the latest computer programs for her papers, research, or presentation. Ultimately the amount of effort put forth by this writer to achieve in demand(p) educational results will depend on h er overall motivation and committal to her goal. Hardin (2008) has found that most graduate students are not prepared academically.This is associated to being away from the academic setting for a prolonged amount of time. technical skills may be outdated or she may not earn the new computer programs. Conducting research and writing papers at a professional level may also be intimidating to the graduate student (Morgenthaler, 2009). Many challenges face this nontraditional graduate student as she returns to school. Although there are significant obstacles, this writer is optimistic about overcoming these obstacles by using the aforementioned strategies as she successfully completes graduate school.