Rodrigo Graduate Work in American Studies Registered Nurse

Abstract

Graduate school was an idea that came from my undergraduate mentors. They thought that I had an interesting voice and as a student of color, some interesting perspectives, and could potentially be a leader. They didn’t think I should just let it all go when I finished my undergraduate program. Honestly, I had other aspirations at the time and I was kind of skeptical. Not about whether or not I could do the work, I just wasn’t sure if I should be doing that work. It ended up being kind of a crapshoot. I wasn’t sure that I’d get into any of the schools my mentors were recommending, but thought I’d apply and see what happened. I wasn’t sure where my music career was going or what I wanted to do next. I wasn’t sure if I should keep trying to “make it” or if I should take academia off the back burner and see where it might go. To my dismay I got a lot of acceptance letters, and they were offering me money. I decided, maybe this wasn’t in my thoughts until recently, but maybe I need to give it a shot. Then I decided, if I’m going to do this then I’m really going to do this. You think I have the goods, let me see if I have the goods. The desire and the motivation were both kind of a conscious decision, and it all came together right when I started grad school.

One of the biggest things I learned from grad school was that just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should be doing it…