Boston vs. Houston

So since about May, I've been battling between going to get my Masters in Public Health at Boston University (BU) or at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

I pretty much decided that if a job opportunity came my way from Boston University (if the school offered me a full time job and with the job tuition remission) I would take the job and go to school as a part time student.

But over the course of these few months, after visiting Egypt and realizing that I love international health, but I might not be cut out to live internationally for the rest of my life...my viewpoint on the whole school situation has been changing.

I started spending more time in Houston where I have family and friends, and after several phone interviews with job prospects at BU, but no dice, my mind started to dream of Houston and the blessings that awaited me there. Monday, 2 weeks before school starts I get a phone call from Boston. "We'd like to offer you the position of admissions assistant with the school of public health," the HR lady says. My first thought is, are you people serious? 2 weeks before I'm supposed to report for school? I have to pay for a plane ticket, find a place to live, move all my shit to Boston, start a new job and on top of that go to school (Which is the whole reason for the move in the first place).

So I asked her if there was any kind of relocation compensation, "No." What is the last day I can start? "August 25th." Exactly two weeks to uproot myself from a life I am perfectly content with to start a brand new one all for the sake of my graduate education?

Yes. So let's focus on the graduate education that is so important to me. One school will focus completely on International Health and prepare me for a career within the international health field. Another will focus on Management, Policy and Community Health with a concentration in Global Health. So if I don't want to spend the rest of my life in the bush as a single missionary woman and I might actually be looking to raise a family in America, how useful is my MPH in international health gonna be? Better to focus on the broader scope of an MPH in Management, Policy and Community Health which I can implement here or abroad.

Below you'll find the rest of my rant and a final conclusion to my decision. You might be surprised at my choice-I know I was. But then again, God always keeps me on my toes and I'm thankful that He's steering this ship cause I'm easily tossed by the waves of this world and can sometimes get lost in it. Hallelujah for He is my compass and points me in the right direction.

Good Ole Psalm 25 has really showered me with peace through ultimate truth spoken. My prayer through this time has remained, "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."



"It doesn't matter what people think, it matters what you think. You have to make the decision, no one else. how do you feel?" mama's wise words.

Here's how i feel (man what a hard concept for me-adding feeling to the realm of reasoning): One option gives me the ability to work in the US, a broader career focus and the ability to actually focus completely on school (which is the reason for this season of my life) as well as begin a thesis and possibly pursue a PhD-all in a city where I have a bunch of family and friends, I'm close to my parents and will be able to enjoy my life. Cook, clean, entertain people, go dancing and do other enjoyable things in the city as well as take care of my own personal health by exercising daily and stepping into a church body that is not completely foreign to me, where I have accountability already established. People know me in Houston.

Houston Pros:
Full-Time Student
Management, Policy, and Community Health (MPH) w/ a concentration in Global health
International Practicum (between first and second year)
Thesis/dissertation topic relevant to global health (with advisers along the way to help shape dissertation)
Possible pursuit of PhD (immediate transition from MPH to PhD-no time in between)
Time for Personal Life-Spiritual, Physical, Mental-time for myself and time with my family in Houston, exercise, dance, enjoy friends, work (write), paint, knit-take on new fun things

Houston Cons:
Houston weather
Tuition More than Boston


In Boston, I wont just be going to school I will be working alongside the school which I hope will open doors to new connections and worldwide possibilities. The only thing is that I will be working 40 hours as an admissions assistant, and school will be part-time. I will not retain information about my masters the way I would if I was a full-time student. Boston is a fun city and very much professional-minded. I will be a working woman in all respects and probably will not have time for myself because I will work 9-5 and then go to class at night and study somewhere in between That doesn't really leave time for me to enjoy the city or the people around me. If I am not about working in international health for the rest of my life, how important is a degree focused specifically on international health? I will not have time to volunteer or work with refugees and do the things I was excited to do in the first place because i will have a full time job. Also, I'm not sure how well admissions assistant in the school of public health will reflect on my resume.

Boston Pros:
Full-time Job in School of Public Health
MPH with dual concentration in International Health/Epidemiology
Cheaper tuition
Live in city of Boston
Serve the undeserved and learn how to do it well
Brand New network of People (Connections formed with Professors and students)


Boston Cons:
Part-Time student
Practicum experience will be after I finish school (during the same time that I should be looking for a full time job)
Will not retain/receive the experience I hope for as a graduate student due to full time job
Full time job in admissions (not going to further my resume)
Far from family
Personal Life on Back burner
Winters


And as much as I'd like to say it doesn't matter, my friends and family are what make my life one that is blessed. With two opportunities, why would I take the one that removes me from my friends and family I've spent a lifetime investing in (and I'm sure will further get to invest into if i go to Houston) in order to pursue my career in Boston. But am I really even pursuing my career in Boston? I'm gonna have a full time job in admissions (something I'm not passionate about and will not further my career) and put Public Health (something I am passionate about learning) on the back burner by taking it on part time-all so I can be in Boston where I have no set body of Christ waiting to support me and welcome me with open arms.

Am I crazy? Am I really leaning towards making Houston, what I once affectionately referred to as the "armpit of Texas," my home? If someone were to say to me, "If all of your friends jumped off the bridge, would you?" My answer would be, "Hell ya!" Maybe I'm finally letting myself be heard and know who I am instead of try to be who I am not. Who I am is a girl that loves people and is inspired and encouraged by the people that surround her, not by jobs or the competition. Maybe that's who I wanted to be-yes I am made better through stimulating conversations, diversity, change and being pushed intellectually but more than that I love the body of Christ. I am home in the body of Christ and comfortable in the love that is there not because of my brains, brawns, intellectual capacity or humanitarian efforts-but because of Christ. Because we share His resurrection and understand true love-how to give it and receive it-because He first loved us. I'm not that kid that thinks Christ was a great historical figure who was really smart and a leader, but wasn't really God incarnate. I'm not too smart to wrap my head around such "ideas" of Christ dying for our sins as the ultimate act of love and freedom for us, so that we may truly live. I'm foolish enough (or smart enough-it all depends) to know how imperfect I am and the thing that drives me to live for tomorrow is not my desire to be perfect in this world, it's my desire to be perfect in Christ's Kingdom. Better to jump into the armpit with a body of believers next to me instead of journey into the unknown land that smells of roses but who really knows what lies behind the roses. In the wise words of OUTKAST, Those roses could smell like poo poo, which is way worse than armpit. Those roses could be covering thorns, which I can't foresee- All I see is the beauty of the rose, nothing more.

Armpit = Straight up Truth.
Roses = Paint a pretty picture but so does Satan-and in the end, you're all alone.

Armpit here I come to take a big whiff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!