“Every time we stretch beyond our resistance and our fear, we make a choice for life. And every time we choose life, we find that fear loses its grip on us.” ~ Rolf Gates

Welcome to The Tao of Grad School. I’m Alex. I’m a 28 year old fake redhead who finally figured out in her first two years of grad school that happiness is a journey (not a destination).

I knew when I was 15 that I was going to be a psychologist. I did not know then where life would take me.  After moving up, down, right, left, forward, backward, and even falling on my face… here I am.  (Mostly) fearless. Content. Fulfilled. I have two feet solidly rooted on the ground, my eyes are turned upward and I am ready to climb whatever mountain I must climb to reach my dreams. I know I am supposed to help people and to make a difference in others’ lives. I finally found out how I can do that.

Find out more about.me.

My life as a grad student

I am a full time graduate student working towards a PhD in Human Factors Psychology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. I earned my B.S. in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Montevallo in Alabama. I earned my M.S. in Experimental Psychology at Old Dominion in 2011. I am a part time Human Factors Specialist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock at Little Creek US Naval Amphibious Base. I work in the Combatant Craft Division. Check out my lab’s website, my student organization website, and my Human Factors page if you would like to learn more about my life as a grad student.

My non-academic life

I practice hot yoga and I work out at Fitness Together with my personal trainers. I prefer my books to be first editions that smell a little musty. I think everyone should see films nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. My favorite place to be is with good friends listening to live music. I love electronic dance music. I tend to watch TV shows in marathon fashion via Hulu and Netflix because it is hard for me to just watch one episode of a good show. I’m a little obsessed with coffee, Bourbon barrel stouts, Pinot Noir, Manchego, and chocolate. I love to cook, but more importantly, I love to eat. I have a makeup artist license and miss doing people’s makeup for a living. I am passionate about Human Rights and take time every week to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.

This blog

While this is my personal blog, I also write about my experiences in grad school and share the ways in which I find balance in my life. Principles of Taoism, Jungian psychology and yoga help me grow in every facet of my life. This blog is my attempt at sharing The Tao, or The Way, of Graduate School. We push ourselves, dedicate our lives to learning and ask tough questions that often times cannot be answered.  When the bullshit (B.S.) turns into more shit (M.S.) and the shit gets piled higher and deeper (Ph.D.),  how do we find balance? I hope to create a place where we can have a conversation about finding balance in our lives when we are pulled in many different directions.

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”

~ Lao Tzu~