Less of a Loser

So, here's a little update to make up for half a year of not being able to blog: I'm a Master! That is, I got my Master's degree. FINALLY and SOOOO long overdue!

Ya see, right after undergrad, I enrolled in a two-year Master's program. Two years. That means, were I on top of my sh!t, I would have graduated in 2003. Two thousand-freaking-three. But, oh, no. I am a loser.

I completed all of my coursework in Arab Studies during that time period. I got all the credits I need in my political science courses and electives. But then I was left with two graduation requirements: the Arabic oral proficiency test and the comprehensive exam. (The comprehensive exam, or "comps", as we referred to it, is where three of your professors, at least one being from your area of concentration, ask you a series of questions pertaining to your major and the classes you had with them.)

The winter before finishing my classes, I had passed the Arabic written exam and not the oral. And the following spring, I opted not to take the comprehensive exam because I knew that I was not in the least bit prepared to do so. So I waited. I thought, maybe I'll be ready next spring!

Well, between finishing the all my courses in May 2003 and May 2004, I had moved back home and eventually (after several months of sittin' on my azz) gotten a job. And for me, being the kind of student I am (which is, not a very good one!), I was not able to get myself ready for that comprehensive exam! Besides not thoroughly knowing the material like I should have, I am not good at being put on the spot and answering questions spontaneously. I made a feeble attempt to cram over the period of a few days to take the exam. Not surprisingly, I failed. And miserably at that!

However, I can say that I passed my Arabic oral proficiency! That very semester, I took up an Arabic conversation course at the Middle East Institute, and I guess that was sufficient to get me through my test. So, that was half the battle left that I conquered...

Then there was still the matter of comps looming over my head. Oh, how much stress it caused (on top of other stresses)! I just could not get my act together for the life of me! Then I had a baby. So, even though I wasn't working 40 hours a week with a commute that also diminished my time, I had a baby to care for. Amd me being the unorganized person that I am, I have no time-management skills!

To try and make a long story short(er), this last year was seriously crunch time. 2004, I took the exam, did not pass, and was working full-time. 2005, I was still working the first four months of the year, gave birth, then became a full-time mom. 2006, still a stay-at-home parent, unemployed, and stressing about money, I had a deadline to meet.

My intention was to study throughout the year. And whenever I didn't get started, I'd say, okay, for sure "next month", or at the latest x month. Well, I got to the fall having barely cracked open a book, September became October became November.

Do you know that I began my cramming mid-/late November? With a test date of, get this: December7?! What the hell is my problem trying to put two year's worth of intense graduate work into my brain in a matter of a couple weeks? Well, I had no other choice. I had only one retake of the exam, PLUS, my time to complete all degree requirements expired that very month of December 2006. It was now or never and I had to give it a shot.

Well, praise the Lord, I somehow managed to pass! The same professors who sat on my board the first time were present again. I was afraid to make a fool of myself again, but apparently, they noticed I actually prepared better for this exam in contrast to the first and my efforts paid off. I am so thankful! Hey, maybe they passed me out of pity, but at this stage, I'll take what I can get!

So, on January 31, 2007, Georgetown University granted me my Master of Arts in Arab Studies with a concentration in Politics. Woo-hoo!