From Easy to Impossible: What to Do When Grad School Gets Tough
Heyyy BCBA Ruby here,
If you’re reading this, chances are you started grad school for your BCBA with excitement and energy. At first, everything felt great. The assignments were manageable, the readings were doable, and you were even ahead of schedule. But now? Now, it’s a different story.
The coursework is getting harder. Deadlines are creeping up faster than you can keep track of. You’re questioning everything you thought you knew. You’re asking yourself, "Am I even cut out for this? Should I just quit before I fall further behind?"
If this is where you’re at, I want you to know that I see you, and I understand. Grad school isn’t a smooth ride from start to finish. There are moments when it feels like you’re soaring, but there are also moments when it feels like you’ve hit a wall.
The reality is, you’re not alone in feeling this way. It’s normal for grad school to get tougher as you move forward. The ease you felt in the beginning can make the challenges now seem even harder to face. But just because it feels tough doesn’t mean you should quit.
Here’s the thing: Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. In fact, it’s a sign that you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, and that’s where growth happens. The tough moments you’re experiencing are all part of the process. This is where you’ll learn the most about yourself — your resilience, your grit, your ability to keep going even when things get overwhelming.
So if you’re thinking about quitting, take a pause. Why did you start this journey in the first place? Was it to make a real difference in people’s lives? To open doors to opportunities that will help you grow and help others? That vision is still there, even if it feels clouded right now.
If you’re feeling lost, try breaking things down into smaller tasks. Start with what you can control today. Reach out to your professors, your peers, or even a mentor who’s been through it before. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength. Lean on your support system and remember that it’s okay to take things one step at a time.
And here’s a secret: The hard parts won’t last forever. Grad school is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s completely normal to have those "I-can’t-do-this" moments. But keep pushing. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. You just need to keep moving forward.
Quitting might seem like the easy option, but I promise you, pushing through this tough moment will feel so much better when you finally cross that finish line. You are capable of more than you think. Don’t let a difficult chapter make you doubt your entire journey. The BCBA you’re working towards is just on the other side of this struggle. Keep going — you’re closer than you think.
I believe in you. You’ve got this.
