Top 10 Tips for Surviving Graduate School

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Jason

GMEarlier in the month, I reflected on my graduation after many years of graduate and post-graduate work. As a compliment to this, I’ve been thinking of a blog post about the Top 10 essentials of surviving grad school. While I don’t want to come across as an expert, I completed an 81-hour master’s degree program and a 30-hour doctoral degree program, all the while maintaining full-time employment, fatherhood, and husbandhood…so I’ve at least picked up a few “pointers” when it comes to finding your way through a full load of grad classes without losing your humanity!

Are you about to begin taking graduate classes? Thinking about it someday? If so, let me share a few words of advice, things that I wish someone had shared with me before I began. Here are my Top 10 Tips for Surviving Graduate School:

  1. Learn to love reading. This probably goes without saying. If you’re inclined to enroll in graduate courses, you’re probably aware of the heavy reading load. Many of my courses required between 2,000-3,000 pages of pre-class reading; a few of my doctoral courses required as many as 4,000 pages. My advice: learn to love it. Part of the joy of graduate school is exposure to a variety of disciplines and ideologies. The only way to get where you want to go is by hitting the books. Hard.
  2. Carve out regular times for study. This is another rather obvious point; you probably had to discipline yourself to do this in your undergraduate work. This was the lesson I learned as a sophomore undergrad. That year, I vowed to spend one hour per weeknight (excluding Friday) studying in the library. And it paid off. The same holds true for your graduate studies. Make it a part of your routine.
  3. Be sure to read for leisure as well. This probably seems like the last thing you’ll feel like doing while you’re knee deep in prep work. But it’s important to maintain connection to disciplines outside your particular field of study. You may not be able to plow through the next Nicholas Sparks’ release in a weekend as you did in your pre-grad school days, but you can read a chapter or two at a time. In fact, it’ll help you come back to your studies with more vigor.
  4. Create your own note-taking method. I’m something of a dinosaur, I suppose, but I still love the feel of a textbook in my hands. I know: e-books are much more convenient, they’re cheaper, and the search feature is a huge benefit over hardback volumes. But I cut my teeth underlining and writing notes in the margins and that’s still my preferred practice. If you flip through one of my books, you’re liable to see a flurry of highlighted sections, brackets, and scribblings. They may be indecipherable to anyone else, but such scratchings helped me create my own note-taking protocol, which was huge for comprehension and analysis.
  5. Skim. While we’re talking about reading, here’s another piece of advice: learn how to skim. I’m talking about first and last sentences of paragraphs: you’ll be surprised how much you can glean by reading this way. It won’t always help, particularly with some more densely written volumes, but it’ll help you in a pinch. I’d still recommend reading the first and last chapters of each book in their entirety, but you can often make up some ground my skimming in the middle.
  6. Have a “go to” playlist. I’ve found that I can’t study while listening to non-instrumental music. For a while, I tried listening to U2 or Johnny Cash while studying, but I found myself singing along and not concentrating on the material at hand. So I developed a playlist of instrumental music: Michael Giacchino’s stirring score that accompanied LOST; New Orleans percussionist Stanton Moore; Carter Burwell’s True Gritsoundtrack; and lots of Miles Davis. If not for these guys, my thesis probably wouldn’t have been written. Great music is the antidote for writer’s block.
  7. Lots of coffee. Enough said.
  8. Remember to exercise. Another cure for writer’s block. So much of graduate school is sedentary – reading, writing, etc – aerobic activity is essential to maintaining some semblance of balance in your life. Take a book to the gym with you; read a chapter while you’re on the treadmill. Heck, just get out and go for a 20 minute walk and come back to the books. Challenging yourself to grow cognitively is no excuse for letting yourself go physically.
  9. Remember to be a human being. I’m proud to say that I kept coaching my son’s Little League team while taking on a full load of school. (Last year: we were 12-4, winners of our division!) I’m proud to say that I found the time to take in my daughter’s soccer games and my youngest son’s karate lessons. My wife and I still made time for date nights. Sure, grad school is hard work. But don’t let it trump your humanity. Take a walk. Plant some flowers. The goal of higher education is to make you a more fully formed human, not less.
  10. Remember to find joy in the journey. Yes, that’s a cliche, but even the cheesiest cliches are rooted in truth. Don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees. There’s a reason you’re drawn to continuing your education. Whatever that reason might be — pursuit of truth, desire to advance in your career, etc. — keep sight of that when the going gets tough. There’s nothing worse than subjecting yourself to grueling hours of study while all of your friends are off watching Monday Night Football and you can’t even remember why you’re doing this to yourself. Enjoy the process of learning. Embrace the formation that you’re experiencing. It’s a joyful journey.
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On Her 36th Birthday

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Jason

Last Thursday, we celebrated Sunny’s 36th birthday. The kids and I plotted together to make the day as special as possible. Joshua has been whispering to me for months about what we were going to get her for her birthday. (Sidebar: I love that he’s so thoughtful, especially when it comes to his Momma…some girl is going to thank us for that someday.)

I let the kids pick out a few gifts for their mother and I had a few already in mind that I wanted to give her. Taking the kids shopping actually turned out to be a huge win:

  • They picked out a candle that they knew Sunny would love (with my sense of smell — or better yet, my lack thereof — that’s never happened)
  • Abby Kate picked out a T-shirt with the words “Blessed Girl” on it; apparently, she’d been wanting to get this for Sunny for quite some time
  • Joshua picked up his usual — a couple of packs of Chap Stick. He knows his Mom pretty well, I’d say
  • And Jackson was with me at Hallmark when we decided to get Sunny a new purse; he claims the idea was all his…and I’ll just leave it at that!

I’m constantly reminded of how blessed are children are to have Sunny for their mother. She’s the perfect balance of tenderness and firmness – she can correct them in one breath and love on them with the next. I can’t help but think that her balanced temperament will help them come to a more mature understanding of the heart of God.

In addition to being a full-time Mom, Sunny devotes herself to the education of a classroom full of precious first-graders for 180 days every school year. I had the chance to watch her in action in her classroom during the “awards ceremony” on the last day of school. One at a time, she had each student come and sit down in a chair at the front of the class. She proceeded to present awards to each child: AR Math certificates, medals for completing the year’s math unit, etc. But she saved the best for last: she read “warm fuzzies” to each student — a compilation of what their classmates had to say about them. You could just see these kids beaming as each statement washed over them — Katie is pretty; James is funny; Holly is my friend; Derrick is good at sports; Grant is kind. I know Sunny well enough to know that this act of blessing was one of the most important parts of her school year. I know there are scores of young people who have been blessed by her intentional efforts in the classroom these past few years.

Sunny and Jason, Nov. 2013 (photo taken by Kristen Moore)

Sunny and Jason, Nov. 2013 (photo taken by Kristen Moore)

I love this picture because it captures Sunny’s beautiful smile. I like that I’m a bit out of focus in the shot; instead, Sunny is the focal point of the camera’s eye. I feel that this photo captures my perspective: in my view, Sunny is in full clarity; I see her as this joyful, beautiful human that brings more into my life than I can articulate. I can’t even remember what I said to make her laugh like this, but I’m grateful that my life consists of the daily reality of Sunny’s smile.

The past year or so has been difficult for our family, particularly Sunny. In 11 months, she said goodbye to her brother, her father, and her grandfather — all the men in her family. I’d give anything to be able to change that for her, but this season of grief has given me a new appreciation for Sunny’s strength of character. She has handled it all with her typical grace and determination. Unwilling to wallow in her misery, I’m proud of the way Sunny has handled all of this in stride. Her resilience and unwavering faith is inspirational.

Sunny, I love you and I’m wishing nothing but God’s continued blessing upon you in the days and months to come. May this year be the year of the Lord’s favor in your life. May He honor your faithfulness in ways you cannot imagine. May He renew His mercies toward you daily. And may you continue to be a source of light and joy to us all.

Baby, you’re the greatest.

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Graduation Reflections

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Jason

This week a significant chapter in my life comes to a close: I’ll graduate for the final time in my academic career. In some form or another, I’ve been in school for 30 of my 37 years. No matter how you cut it, that’s a lot of schooling. And now, it all comes to a conclusion. Saturday is Graduation Day.

And I think the finality of it all is hitting me. I’ve joked that I won’t know what to do without the feeling of school sort of hanging over me. And it’s true. For as far back as I can remember, I’ve been looking ahead to the next course, the next paper to write, the next book to review. Now that I’ve reached the end of the line, there’s a part of me that’s left saying, “Now what?” Which prompted this post of random reflections.

But this has been about much more than the accomplishment of an arbitrary goal. As with most things in life, the journey is just as important as the destination. And I can write this sentence with confidence: graduate school has been one of the best things to ever happen to me. I really don’t know who I’d be if not for the formative years I’ve spent at Lipscomb and Abilene Christian University. I’ll forever be indebted to these institutions.

14 years ago, I was a youth minister at the Northeast Church of Christ in Kingsport, Tennessee. I received a call one day from Calvin Crim, one of our elders. Calvin said he wanted to come by to see me. That afternoon, we ate lunch in my office and he told me I needed to continue my education. I’d been done with my undergrad schooling for about a year or so and I really wasn’t interested in starting graduate work. But hey, he was one of the elders; what was I supposed to say? I don’t remember the exact words he used, but at one point, Calvin looked me square in the eye and told me I was capable of doing graduate work. He challenged me to see how far I could go. I really didn’t know it at the time, but that day I began a journey that would carry me through the next decade and a half. I’m indebted to Calvin for loving me enough to tell me something I didn’t want to hear and for challenging me to challenge myself.

I’m also indebted to instructors who have heavily invested themselves in both their courses and their students. I’ve had the opportunity to sit at the feet of some great men, men who have shared their passion for the Kingdom of God. Not only has my understanding expanded; I’m a better father, husband, minister, and man because of my exposure to these men of faith. It is this formation that I’m most thankful for as this chapter winds down.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my mother this week. She was a lifelong educator and at the time of her death, she was considering a move into school administration. When I was a child, she would require me to work through a math worksheet and a Bible lesson before I could go outside to play on summer mornings. I think my appreciation for education is the direct result of her influence.

Sunny has made plenty of sacrifices to allow me to pursue such intensive academic training, too. While I’d be away for weeks at a time, she’d be at home holding down the fort, making it all look easy while taking care of our three kids. I’ve heard from several spouses over the years who have reminded me that a terminal degree is truly a “family degree,” and I think that’s spot on. Sunny has gone above and beyond to help me achieve this goal. To simply say I’m grateful would be an understatement.

In all, I’m excited and grateful to be at this point. I’m blessed beyond measure in this season. With clear eyes and a full heart, I’m giving thanks.

Posted in Blessings, Family, Grad School, Ministry, Mom, Sunny | 1 Comment

Top Five: April 2014

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Jason

Time for my monthly rundown of what I’m lovin’ these days:

  1. war-on-drugs-lost-in-the-dreamLost in the Dream by The War on Drugs. I had some eMusic credits at the end of last month that I needed to use and I came across this new release. I’d heard a bit of The War on Drugs before, but their style of refracted mood rock never quite did it for me. But after a few listens on Spotify, I decided to download this one and it’s been on constant repeat ever since. Like The National’s Trouble Will Find Me or Heaven by The Walkmen, Lost in the Dream is a slow burn, over 60 minutes of impressionistic reverb sax, synth, pedal steel, electric and acoustic guitar. Portions of this album sound like vintage Dire Straits; at other turns, there are Americana homages as well. But the trick is that this album still sounds fresh while hearkening back to the past. In a time when many are bemoaning the death of rock, an album like this emerges and unabashedly claims a modern sound without being overly nostalgic. A great album.
  2. The Passage by Justin Cronin. I read this book a couple of years ago, but I decided to re-read it this spring in anticipation of this fall’s release of the final chapter of The Passage trilogy. Let me just say: this book is even better the second time. Supposedly Ridley Scott is working to bring this story to the big screen, but I have no idea how a story this sweeping can possibly translate. If you’re looking for a good read this summer, you can’t go wrong with this one.
  3. 20140429-211445Our spring flowers. When we moved in to this house a few years back, we planted several knock-out roses around our flower beds. Just this week, they’ve all exploded! Sunny snapped this picture of one of our roses from the front porch yesterday. I love this time of year.
  4. The NBA playoffs. I’ve never been much of an NBA fan, at least not during the regular season. But come playoff time, I can’t get enough. And has there ever been a first round that delivered this much drama? Nearly every series is coming down to the wire…and it’s just the first round! If the rest of the playoffs are anything like this, we’re in for a fun six weeks.
  5. Graduation! Next week will be a big week around here. I’ll have more to say about it then, but I’m stoked about finishing up my academic career next week. Post forthcoming.
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Easter 2014: The Lion is the Lamb

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Jason

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for Godfrom every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.” — Rev. 5:1-10

In Revelation 4, John is given a glimpse into heaven and what he sees is astounding: God, seated on His throne, receiving the worship of the heavenly host. The scene shifts in the next chapter; God holds a scroll, representing His will for creation, and the question rings out: Who is worthy to break the seals of this scroll?

And John weeps, for no one is found worthy. Scholars say the word for weep here is reserved for the most dramatic form of mourning. John wails, for the universe is without a hero.

But one of the elders says to him, “Don’t weep! Behold, the Lion of Judah!” In ancient literature, the lion functioned as an image of great strength and courage. As the rulers of the animal kingdom, many ancient kings were fond of comparing themselves to lions.

The same expression can be found in the OT. In Gen. 49, Jacob confers a blessing upon his sons and he refers to Judah as a lion, wielding a scepter and vanquishing his enemies. A Messianic expectation developed in reference to this passage: the Lion of Judah would someday emerge, a mighty warrior prince who would reign victorious over a restored Israel.

In his vision, John turns to see this one who has been called the Lion of Judah. If this were a movie, this is the point where you’d expect the music to rise and the hero to appear. Think John Wayne riding up on his horse or Jack Bauer kicking down the door or Tony Stark donning the Iron Man suit.

This is where we expect some action.

This is when the bad guys are finally gonna get what’s coming to them.

But John turns to see the Lion of Judah…and instead, he sees a Lamb. If the Lion of Judah is an image of victory, then the Lamb is an image of helplessness. Lambs are some of the most vulnerable little animals. The lamb has always been the symbol of innocence, meekness, lowliness, and gentleness.

But this isn’t just any lamb; John says he sees “a Lamb looking as if it had been slain.” The lamb was the animal of sacrifice in Judaism.Many of the Jewish sacrifices required the lamb as an offering. John sees a Lamb that bears the marks of slaughter, a Lamb that has been sacrificed.

And we think to ourselves, This is the victorious image that John sees in Revelation?

We might be tempted to tell John that he mixed up his stories. John, this isn’t a victory story. This sounds like a story of failure! A slaughtered Lamb? Where’s the Lion of Judah? Where’s the real hero? We want our John Wayne. We want Jack Bauer. We want Iron Man. We’re ready for the hero to come in guns blazing to kick evil in the teeth! No, John, you must’ve gotten this one wrong!

But this is the central paradox of Revelation and the Christian faith in general: Jesus conquered not by force but by death; not by violence, but by martyrdom.

Jesus overcomes by dying, which challenges our concept of victory.

Sure, the Lamb bears the mark of slaughter on His body, but there is one inescapable feature here that makes all the difference: the Lamb is still alive.

cross_lionlambThe victorious Lion is actually the risen Lamb!

Resurrection Sunday marks the conclusion to the greatest battle in human history. It marks the conclusion of God’s age-old battle with sin and death. It’s a battle that began in the Garden when Adam and Eve said, “Not your will but mine be done.” It’s a battle that came to a conclusion when Jesus, in another garden thousands of years later, said, “Not my will but yours be done.“

He became the Lion of Judah by being the Lamb of God.

And in so doing, He became the rightful king of the world.

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The Lamb of God

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Jason

The Lamb of God is drawing near, ready to give of himself for our sake.

Alive

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The Lion of Judah

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Jason

The Lion of Judah is on his way, coming in victory and power and glory.

lion-roar

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A Trip to Grandmother’s

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Jason

Today was an awesome day. We woke up early and drove to my hometown, Lebanon, TN. We were able to worship at the College Hills Church of Christ, which is where I grew up. It was great to see some familiar faces (and some new ones!) while also spending time with my sister and her family. After an inspiring hour of worship, we had a fantastic lunch at El Comino in Lebanon. Sunny snapped this picture of our crew after we were stuffed full of tacos and chimichangas!

The Bybee / Beard clan, April 2014

The Bybee / Beard clan, April 2014 (minus Sunny! Somebody had to take the pic!)

After lunch, we drove over to Castallian Springs to visit with my Grandmother Armstrong. Grandmother is 95 years old and still lives in the home she’s been in my entire life. It’s always great to spend time with her. We spent the afternoon looking through old family photo albums and telling stories. She had a few to tell the kids about my growing up years! And I learned a few things about Grandmother today, too — like, she was the salutatorian of her graduating class! Pretty cool!

Looking through the family photo albums with my Grandmother and Joshua

Looking through the family photo albums with my Grandmother and Joshua

Grandmother was even willing to coach up the kids on how to make a baby blanket!

IMG_1130

Spending the afternoon with my Grandmother helps me to feel connected to my past in such a meaningful way. Most of my family got together yesterday afternoon for our annual Easter lunch. Unfortunately, our family couldn’t be there, so we made it a priority to get up to Middle Tennessee today to see Grandmother. One of the things I love about my Grandmother is the way she talks about my mother. Most of the people in my life never knew my Mom, so it’s nice to hear the stories Grandmother can tell about her. We snapped this picture from an old family photo album. I see a lot of Joshua in those eyes.

Myrna Armstrong; Grandmother guessed she was about 8 years old in this picture

Myrna Armstrong; Grandmother guessed she was about 8 years old in this picture

All in all, we had a great day today. I’m very thankful for my family and the opportunity we had to share a special day together today.

IMG_1157

 

 

 

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Man In the Mirror

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Jason
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Top Five: March 2014

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Jason

Time for my monthly rundown of what I’m into at the moment.

  1. "Augustines" by Augustines, the band formerly known as We Are Augstines

    “Augustines” by Augustines, the band formerly known as We Are Augstines

    Augustines by Augustines. In my constant pursuit of great music, I came across this album in late February via an eMusic recommendation. Little did I know how quickly I would fall in love with it. Artistically, Augustines is sort of a cross between Gaslight Anthem and Coldplay: a bit gritty, but arena-ready. With a 2012 debut album under their belt, the band tapped producer Peter Katis (of Boxer and Alligator fame) to helm a follow-up chock full of killer hooks and huge vocals. Highlights include “Weary Eyes”, “Now We Are Free”, “Cruel City”, “The Avenue”, and the song that is destined to go down as my favorite of 2014, “Walkabout”, a jarringly honest rumination on identity, prayer, and the hope of eternity. A must listen.

  2. DBX Crestwood...my bike

    DBX Crestwood…my bike

    Bicycling. Last month, I wrote about my desire to run more. I was doing pretty well until the first week of March, which was when Sunny and I decided to purchase bikes so we could go riding with the kids through the neighborhood. And with the spring weather we’ve had, we’ve really enjoyed it. In fact, I biked nearly 60 miles in March alone! I’ve been using the RunTastic app to keep track of my riding. I haven’t given up the desire to run more often, but it’s nice to mix a little bike-riding in as well.

  3. MLB Opening Day. I love this time of year. Little League baseball is in full swing. My fantasy baseball draft was just a few weeks ago. March Madness is always exciting. And I’ve even gotten into the Masters the last few years. But nothing can compare to the opening of the Major League Baseball season. After a long offseason, there’s nothing quite like it. Sunny and I have been planning a major baseball trip this summer; I’ll write more about that later.
  4. The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. This has become a staple for us each night. Fallon is simply hilarious. I’m glad to say we were on the Jimmy bandwagon long before he landed the Tonight Show gig. But it’s great to be able to watch him an hour earlier now. Suddenly the Tonight Show is relevant again!
  5. The Cash "lost" album

    The Cash “lost” album

    Johnny Cash’s “lost” album. Back in the 80s, this album was put on the shelf when Cash’s record label inexplicably dropped him. Remastered with the help of some backing vocals and new studio players, “Out Among the Stars” was released last week. Of course, I’m a fan, so I’d listen to an album of Cash reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica. As it stands, the album retains it’s 80s country feel, giving it a certain time-capsule effect. Standout tracks include “I’m Movin’ On” (a duet with Waylon), “Don’t You Think It’s Come Our Time” (a duet with June Carter Cash), and the haunting “She Used to Love Me a Lot.” New Cash music…you know I’m good with that.

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