Last week I accepted a spot in the master's program at Western Carolina University.
It has really happened. Two years and three applications cycles after starting this blog and starting my grad school search in ernest, I have been accepted to a program. I am so grateful for this opportunity. I'm really proud of myself and excited beyond words. I'm excited to get to spend two years working my ass off.
I will be earning a MS in Biology. My research will be part of a project with the Forest Service that is studying how the size of small harvest patches affect the establishment early successional habitat and is seeking a threshold patch size for creating that habitat. The study has treatment sizes from a single tree to 4 hectare (9.9 acre) patches. The project is investigating effects of the patch sizes on the plants, birds, and bats. The project is also studying the financial side of harvesting at these scales and public perception of the different harvesting treatments. It is a pretty awesome project and is the reason I even heard about WCU. I saw the opening posted on the Ecolog listserv. There are two professors who I might work with, both of whom are focused on the vegetation side of the study. I met both of them when I visited the school, and I think either of them would be great as an advisor.
While I'm there I will be TA for the Bio Department, which may be challenging but is also likely go well with my background as an educator. I am a little nervous to be leading a class that I've not taken before, but I will be responsible for a lab section. I'm sure once I get into the groove I will be ok. As I learned at ODS, fake it till you make it--and you will make it. Puffin always added that last bit, which I like.
My partner in crime this year also got into a program. She will be working on a PhD with an awesome advisor on a project she is stoked about. I'm really proud of her. I'm sure we will stay in touch to compare notes, give encouragement, and celebrate successes. I start in August and she starts in June; life is moving fast.
So I know I haven't used this blog much, in fact I'm quite a terrible blogger, but ultimately I started it for myself. I may try to write more as school progresses. I can use it a platform to inform my friends of what I'm working on and to practice writing for an audience. I plan to publish my eventual thesis, so I can use all of the writing practice I can get. I had a moment this week when I thought about how I may need to change the name of the blog, however. My career in ecology is no longer a dream.
