In the past week in particular, I have noticed an entire shift in the way that I think about research, interviews, doctorates, dissertations, and other related issues. It's like a gear that had been stuck suddenly fit into place and started an entire inactive series of gears turning. I cannot fully explain this epiphany; it's on a larger scale than I want to write out at the moment (and I certain that its longer than anyone else wants to read).
I tried writing a short version, but it just wasn't coming out the right way. Basically, I feel like I understand a bit better my role (or part of a role) in a much larger community of scholars. I also feel more confident in knowing how to fill that role and to use it to make the world a better place. By itself, that has been worth the rather high cost of these classes.