http://www.globecampus.ca/blogs/freshman-life/
Sigh, another blog about undergrad, OK, its fairly good, btu would love to see more about grad students in the media. Hmmm, maybe I can get a job with the globe and mail!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Lessons From Running
I am running a race this weekend, and according to my training schedule I should have run 8.5 kilometres this sunday, well Oktoberfest killed that idea. I kept feeling as though if I couldn't schedule the time for an 8.5K run, I shouldn't run at all. Well that was stupid, I am still going to do the race regardless of whether or not I get in this run, so I might as well do something. So I went for 4 K today and it felt great, it wasn't as far as I wanted to go, but at least I went. And I will go 4k Friday morning, it isn't 8K but it is enough.
So the lesson for my thesis, I often feel like a day is a failure if I don't work for 12 hours or get an entire chapter written, but the truth is even 15 minutes or one page or a few hours is better than nothing.
So my lesson, don't be a moron and say "If I can't do a lot than I'm not going to do any", I think that might be what gets us in this trouble in the first place.
So the lesson for my thesis, I often feel like a day is a failure if I don't work for 12 hours or get an entire chapter written, but the truth is even 15 minutes or one page or a few hours is better than nothing.
So my lesson, don't be a moron and say "If I can't do a lot than I'm not going to do any", I think that might be what gets us in this trouble in the first place.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Glad I'm not this fish
I thought writing a thesis was not a great life and planning a wedding was worse....then I realised I could be this fish, things seem a little better now.
This picture may have to be my desktop for a while, I will avoid shutting off MS word because I will get scared every time I do.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Thesis status: Mostly dead
Some of you know or may have heard about that little life event I have coming up called a wedding.
While it will not be the death of me it has relegated my thesis to the realm of "Mostly dead"
Talking to other grad students I have learned that major life events seem to send a thesis into stasis. Take for example, pregnancy. While this only affects about one half of grad students it is still a common problem. A women who thinks she has three months left to go on her thesis, has already defended and is really just tweaking the bibliography decides to get pregnant.
All of a sudden a thesis that should take three months to finish, now looks like it will not be done until the little one in her tummy is starting grad school herself. Mommy classes, making a nursery, nervous calls from soon to be grandparents, doctors visits, all of which should somehow take maybe 4-5 hours a week begin to take 16 hours a day.
Or say you cross the threshold of getting an academic job, sure it is just a part time position, but for some reason you are exhausted after your three hours of class, your two office hours and ten hours of marking, you aren't going to want to finish that thesis. The light at the end of your tunnel slowly begins to fade as you enter the "I need to make money, therefore I will work, which will help me pay the tuition so I can take one more term to do my thesis" state of perpetual quasi-death.
Returning to my original example, say my wedding finishes I return from my honeymoon. It ain't over and no chocolate covered pill is going to revive this undead tome. After the wedding you have thank you cards to send, gifts to return, a new place to move into. All of a sudden your working spouse expects you to work during the day, 9-5 like him or her, so you can spend "quality time" together. Impromptu beer nights (aka academic brainstorming sessions) with your friends are replaced by dinner parties with other married couples who ask "how long until your thesis is done again?". Pshaw, they never mentioned that in the pre-nup. I do my best work at 4:00 am and I study over beer how was that not obvious before marriage.
Well, death is another part of living, I am sure things will even out again soon after all, I do study religion and even my thesis deserves and afterlife (or is that what a post-doc is for?)
*Disclaimer* Any mention of annoying spouses is purely conjecture and in no way reflects my real life spouse as he has never worked 9-5, he's lucky if he gets to work 8-11(pm) **
While it will not be the death of me it has relegated my thesis to the realm of "Mostly dead"
Talking to other grad students I have learned that major life events seem to send a thesis into stasis. Take for example, pregnancy. While this only affects about one half of grad students it is still a common problem. A women who thinks she has three months left to go on her thesis, has already defended and is really just tweaking the bibliography decides to get pregnant.
All of a sudden a thesis that should take three months to finish, now looks like it will not be done until the little one in her tummy is starting grad school herself. Mommy classes, making a nursery, nervous calls from soon to be grandparents, doctors visits, all of which should somehow take maybe 4-5 hours a week begin to take 16 hours a day.
Or say you cross the threshold of getting an academic job, sure it is just a part time position, but for some reason you are exhausted after your three hours of class, your two office hours and ten hours of marking, you aren't going to want to finish that thesis. The light at the end of your tunnel slowly begins to fade as you enter the "I need to make money, therefore I will work, which will help me pay the tuition so I can take one more term to do my thesis" state of perpetual quasi-death.
Returning to my original example, say my wedding finishes I return from my honeymoon. It ain't over and no chocolate covered pill is going to revive this undead tome. After the wedding you have thank you cards to send, gifts to return, a new place to move into. All of a sudden your working spouse expects you to work during the day, 9-5 like him or her, so you can spend "quality time" together. Impromptu beer nights (aka academic brainstorming sessions) with your friends are replaced by dinner parties with other married couples who ask "how long until your thesis is done again?". Pshaw, they never mentioned that in the pre-nup. I do my best work at 4:00 am and I study over beer how was that not obvious before marriage.
Well, death is another part of living, I am sure things will even out again soon after all, I do study religion and even my thesis deserves and afterlife (or is that what a post-doc is for?)
*Disclaimer* Any mention of annoying spouses is purely conjecture and in no way reflects my real life spouse as he has never worked 9-5, he's lucky if he gets to work 8-11(pm) **
Monday, June 9, 2008
Types of Grad Students: The Over Achiever
The Over Achiever (OA) can be found at any one of a million weekly meetings. Apart from meetings with the supervisor daily, the OA is a member of every possible comittee. When not in one of these many meetings, they are in a perpetual state of on the run. Despite never seeming to sleep, eat or sit down and read, they seem to hand all their papers in two weeks early, and hae several publications under their belt.
Interacting with the OA is best done through one line e-mails or text messages. They are generally too busy to actually answer a phone or read more than one line of an e-mail. As well, they are probably doing a million other things while reading your text or e-mail.
Though the urge to kill the OA is strong, or to at least give them some valum, it is best to avoid these urges. Instead, latch on to them and ride their coat tails. Want to see an example of an over achiever and a mooch, Karl Rove and George W. Bush. Proof that you don't actually have to be the smart, hard working one to go far.
The OA will be eager to co-publish and hand you the not too important comittee projects that are easy to do but still look good on the CV.
All in all, the OA makes a good co-worker, not necessarily a good drinking buddy as their high powered life style can lead to excessive tendencies in other areas. Use them to motivate yourslef to work harder, but be sure to spend a lot of time with the slacker (To be discussed later) in order to make yourself feel more productive.
Interacting with the OA is best done through one line e-mails or text messages. They are generally too busy to actually answer a phone or read more than one line of an e-mail. As well, they are probably doing a million other things while reading your text or e-mail.
Though the urge to kill the OA is strong, or to at least give them some valum, it is best to avoid these urges. Instead, latch on to them and ride their coat tails. Want to see an example of an over achiever and a mooch, Karl Rove and George W. Bush. Proof that you don't actually have to be the smart, hard working one to go far.
The OA will be eager to co-publish and hand you the not too important comittee projects that are easy to do but still look good on the CV.
All in all, the OA makes a good co-worker, not necessarily a good drinking buddy as their high powered life style can lead to excessive tendencies in other areas. Use them to motivate yourslef to work harder, but be sure to spend a lot of time with the slacker (To be discussed later) in order to make yourself feel more productive.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Dissertation Vacation
I just got back from a vacation...from my dissertation.
Yes, even grad students need vacations.
What did I do? I sat around and read...what a great break from my thesis where all I do is sit around and read.
Maybe I should think over this vacation thing more.
Yes, even grad students need vacations.
What did I do? I sat around and read...what a great break from my thesis where all I do is sit around and read.
Maybe I should think over this vacation thing more.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Why Studying Religion Can Suck - Episode One!
Scene...some pub in Australia
Random guy: Hey, good DJ tonight.
Me: Yeah, I like this place
RG: Hey, I love your accent, where are you from
Me: Canada, I just graduated from uni and am here as a graduation present
RG: Sweet, what did you study
Me: Oh Psychology and religious studies
RG: Long thoughtful pause
RG: Look of accomplishment
RG: No way... I've read the Da Vinci code too!
Me: Contemplate jumping in front of Australian bus, or pushing RG in front of said bus to prevent procreation.
Random guy: Hey, good DJ tonight.
Me: Yeah, I like this place
RG: Hey, I love your accent, where are you from
Me: Canada, I just graduated from uni and am here as a graduation present
RG: Sweet, what did you study
Me: Oh Psychology and religious studies
RG: Long thoughtful pause
RG: Look of accomplishment
RG: No way... I've read the Da Vinci code too!
Me: Contemplate jumping in front of Australian bus, or pushing RG in front of said bus to prevent procreation.
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