[nabs-l] Grad school out of state

Sat Dec 10 19:51:55 UTC 2016

Sheikha,
I would strongly encourage you to sign your parents up for Future Reflections, the NFB's magazine for parents. To start, you might read an article to them from the Braille Monitor, Future Reflections, or the Student Slate after dinner. Also, would it be possible for them to attend the NFB of Georgia convention with you? It might also be good for them to sign up for the NFB parents' division listserv or Facefook group and post their concerns there? Than, other parents could reassure them. I am sorry you are going through this. I am in high school, but my parents are great at guiding and encouraging me through the high school years, and will support me in college. Hope this helps.
Mikayla

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 10, 2016, at 2:07 PM, Lucy Sirianni via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Shikha,
> 
> I echo a lot of what Kennedy has said below.  Assure your parents that countless blind adults are living on their own, successfully running households, pursuing educations and careers, traveling, raising families, etc, etc.  If they are open to this, it may ease their concerns to talk with blind adults who live independently or to join listservs like the NFB's parents of blind children division to get support and guidance from other parents who have grappled with similar uncertainties.  Ultimately, though, your parents do need to recognize that you are a competent adult capable of making decisions on your own behalf, and you may need to be quite firm in telling them that while you value their input and hope they'll support your choices, you will be making the decisions about your life.  I am sorry you're needing to fight to get them to recognize this; I can only imagine how discouraging and challenging it must be.
> 
> As for researching grad schools, talk with people who are working in the field you hope to enter.  Look online for lists of the top programs in your field and then research the ones that appeal to you, looking for factors like reputation, location, job placement records, and the backgrounds of the professors you'd be working with.  Reach out to current and/or former students to see if they feel happy and supported in their program.
> 
> I hope this helps, and good luck!
> 
> Lucy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: KENNEDY STOMBERG via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Sat, 10 Dec 2016 12:47:55 -0600
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Grad school out of state
> 
> As for your question  about researching grad schools, I am not certain.  This is something I am wondering about as well, so I would love to hear what people have to say.
> 
> 
> However, I can address the question about your parents, and hopefuly, it will be helpful.  I have lived away from my parents since my last semester of high school.  I moved out when I was 17, because I needed to practice being endependent.  I also elected to do my undergraduate degree out-of-state, and am currently preparing to study abroad  this spring.   This would have been difficult without the support of my parents, and I am sorry that yours are sheltering you so much.
> 
> A couple of things you might consider telling them, since they are so concerned about your abbility to succeed due to blindness.
> 1.  There are a lot of successful blind people who complete college away from their parents.  (I have no doubt that others on the list will also be able to tell you that they did undergrad or graduate school out of state, and were successful.)
> 2.  You have already  traveled to Maryland endependently before, and you clearly came back just fine.  Have you not proven that you can be independent and keep yourself safe?
> 
> Hope this helps!
> Kennedy
> Kennedy Stomberg
> (218)295-2391
> 
> On Dec 10, 2016, at 12:12 PM, Shikha via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Hey,
> I am older then my sister and my parents are protecting me from living an independent life.  I want to attend grad school out of state.  I want to leave georgia.  I will apply for grad school next December, but during the Christmas break i have to do my research.  My program for master in social work is only an one year program.  They said that since i am blind I will be more successful if i stay in Georgia and get my master degree at the school that i am currently at which is Georgia state university.  How do i convince them? How do I research for a good grad school.  I want to move to dc or maryland.  I saved up and went to my friends wedding this summer even though my parents said no.  They will never forgive me.  Even though i am an adult how do you obey your parents? How do you live an independent life when your parents don't agree with your decision? I will keep on researching for different grad schools during Christmas break.  I think i got all a this semester but my parents don't care.  They are always thinking about my future.  I will keep you guys updated because my grades have not been posted yet.  Please help i am scared and confused.
> Thanks,
> Shikha.
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