Soon you will have to call me 'master'

I am currently in the process of applying for masters programs. This process is becoming more stressful and involved than I ever imagined! Part of the stress is my own fault - I let things go too long with the craziness that was the holidays this year so now my 'to do' list is long and time is short. But some of the stress is inherent in the process of application. What do I want to specialize in? What do I want to research? Who do I want to be my supervisor? In looking at programs and faculty members I am having trouble figuring out what I want to focus on. This has always been a problem since so many things about my chosen field interest me. I think policy and political economy are facinating and the glaring inconsistencies anger me so that I want to be part of the solution, or at the very least a voice of reason in the madness. On the other hand, community development at the grassroots level is in my mind the front line of development and where all the really exciting things are happening. I would rather be in a village in Rwanda than in an office in Ottawa, New York or Geneva. And still again there are subjects like peace building and reconciliation in the development context which, especially in light of my experiences in South Africa and Rwanda, really get me excited. So where do I focus my attention? I have been leaning more towards something with peacebuilding, reconciliation and the perceptions of "progress" in South Africa and Rwanda. I even found a faculty member at one of the schools I am applying to who would be perfect to supervise. Unfortunately she will be on sabbatical for the majority of my time there.
Even with all these stresses and the looming deadlines I am getting really excited about doing this next year. Getting back into academics, being a student again and getting to learn and read and study again. Really exciting! (I know I'm a geek) I have already gotten back into reading some journals and articles. So, hopefully I will get all my letters of interest and outlines and summaries finished in the next couple of days and the stress will subside. Then I just have to wait for the acceptance letters (or not...) which is also stressful....