Off to a good start
I decided on the 1st to quit a few bad habits, both smoking and drinking - something I should have done years ago. I do admit that over the past year my drinking had been so much better than in years past, but it was still causing problems here and there and I’m glad to put the habit (life-style) behind me. You would think that I would be feeling great, but it seems I've been dealing with some type of respiratory problem for the past few weeks (it started even before I quite smoking). After yesterday's run I was coughing violently for over an hour, finding it difficult to catch my breath and not really coughing up anything (damn dry coughing). It worried me enough that I decided not to run today and if this coughing/wheezing doesn't stop in the near future I'll make an appointment with the doctor to see what it is exactly.
I've been otherwise great these past few weeks. My last application is due 2-1 and I should be hearing back from the school some time in the spring. I'm really looking forward to getting back into school - this past year has taught me that working for a living doesn't suit me well. I'm much more comfortable with the leisured life of the student. Sure it can be demanding, but it's not really work - we choose to be students and, most importantly, there is continuous intellectual growth.
Most of my entry essays have stated my interest in studying how neurodegenerative diseases affect memory systems, but I'm not sure how committed I am to such a limited pursuit. I was joking with Melissa that if I didn't get in to any of the schools (that’s a joke, right?) that I would enroll in the philosophy program at UC San Diego - I've been interested in P. Churchland's work in neurophilosophy for quite a while. After completion of that degree I could then get into PhD programs at either UCSD or WashU in their interdisciplinary Philosophy/Neuroscience programs. I think work in the field of consciousness studies would be very fulfilling. I would also be very much interested in the study of the neuroscience of religious experiences (Zen and the Brain, e.g.). Then there is the entire area of the Philosophy of Science that interests me. Not to mention studies in the History of Science as well. As you can see I've been forced to pigeonhole my interest for my grad school applications because there really is just too much that I am interested in in the field (perhaps I just don't know what I really want - sometimes our desires can be overwhelming).
I'm hoping that we can be out of Sacramento by June; I really hate the summers here. Where will we end up? It depends on the schools that accept me. I am, however, feeling optimistic.
I'm ready for something new. I'm also no longer tormented by certain thoughts and habits that kept me locked up for so long. This is going to be a good year.
I've been otherwise great these past few weeks. My last application is due 2-1 and I should be hearing back from the school some time in the spring. I'm really looking forward to getting back into school - this past year has taught me that working for a living doesn't suit me well. I'm much more comfortable with the leisured life of the student. Sure it can be demanding, but it's not really work - we choose to be students and, most importantly, there is continuous intellectual growth.
Most of my entry essays have stated my interest in studying how neurodegenerative diseases affect memory systems, but I'm not sure how committed I am to such a limited pursuit. I was joking with Melissa that if I didn't get in to any of the schools (that’s a joke, right?) that I would enroll in the philosophy program at UC San Diego - I've been interested in P. Churchland's work in neurophilosophy for quite a while. After completion of that degree I could then get into PhD programs at either UCSD or WashU in their interdisciplinary Philosophy/Neuroscience programs. I think work in the field of consciousness studies would be very fulfilling. I would also be very much interested in the study of the neuroscience of religious experiences (Zen and the Brain, e.g.). Then there is the entire area of the Philosophy of Science that interests me. Not to mention studies in the History of Science as well. As you can see I've been forced to pigeonhole my interest for my grad school applications because there really is just too much that I am interested in in the field (perhaps I just don't know what I really want - sometimes our desires can be overwhelming).
I'm hoping that we can be out of Sacramento by June; I really hate the summers here. Where will we end up? It depends on the schools that accept me. I am, however, feeling optimistic.
I'm ready for something new. I'm also no longer tormented by certain thoughts and habits that kept me locked up for so long. This is going to be a good year.