Thoughts on Post Undergrad

Pōsōh,

Being a senior in undergrad is a lot more exhausting than people make it out to be. I started this fall semester with a plan, I had everything I hoped to accomplish over the semester written down in a neat and orderly list. I had my calendar filled to the brim with a workout schedule, research conference application deadlines, study groups, family time, and every single assignment that I could foresee locked into my memory before the first day of classes. I knew I wanted to finish my last fall semester as strong as possible, and apply to every mathematics graduate program I had dreamed about for the last year. What no one told me about being a senior, is that the reality of life really begins to set in. I had conversations with peers, mentors, friends, and my parents about my anxieties of applying to math programs and my fears of not enjoying them. Among all of the different dialogues, I learned that it wasn't 5 long years of mathematical proofs that I was interested in, but a sector of any topic related to education with a particular level of quantitative analysis and leadership. I've been talking for several months about my interests in ethnomathematics, but never had time to fully delve into my thoughts and interests in education beyond the notion of being a teacher. Now, I have finally decided to apply to education policy programs all across the nation.

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The Programs in Mind

Currently, my mind remains open to thoughts of pursuing education policy at any program across the country. However, I am really excited about the possibility of studying on the east coast. I have been reminicing about my time exploring D.C. and the inspiration it gave to me. I am driven to be a part of the fast paced work environment of those who run our nations capital. The 2024 McNair conference at the University of Maryland was one of the largest influences in my pursual of graduate school, and I am excited to announce that it is a large contender on my list of places I would like to apply. In addition to the University of Maryland, Harvard, Columbia, and John Hopkins are at the forefront of my mind as I begin my application process.

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What Now?

As of right now, my knoweldge of the field of education policy is limited. I have weekly meetings set up with my McNair director to ensure that I have the time to continue to do my research about specific programs, as well as begin the application process. It has been a tough semester so far, as I complete the last class of my Spanish minor, 3 advanced math courses, and of course continuing my research. I have a very full schedule, but I am extremely excited to start taking this next step into my future.

Wāewāenan