Mistress of Politics
After a summer of fighting for it, I was finally accepted at the very last minute to the masters program in political science at UNT. I registered for classes and dealt with financial aid on Friday, cleared up the $300 in parking tickets I managed to get while living in Japan (long story) on Monday, and went to my first class, all ready to learn, Monday night.
Whoa I almost had a panic attack when I got the 20-page syllabus for Comparative Politics Proseminar and realized that I was unaware of the summer reading assignment there apparently was. Fortunately, the majority of the class was unaware of this assignment so I was saved the embarassment of being the only person unable to participate in the discussion of the articles. On the contrary, I found myself almost leading the discussion on the changes in the field in a post-9/11 system. Woo hoo!
Now all I have to deal with in the class in the "publication-worthy final paper that should develop into your masters thesis." Holy crap day one and I have to pick a thesis topic?! Well, not quite but Dr. Mason definitely rightly recommends that we start thinking about it as we do our research design. ;(-_-)
The nice thing about the three classes I am taking is that for the most part it is all the same people in class with me. In just two days I've met a lot of really nice and interesting people that are just starting in the program too, though I feel like the only one who doesn't have a TA position. :( I console myself with the knowledge that I make more money waiting tables, as much as it sucks.
Speaking of work, it still sucks just so everyone knows. Though I am a trainer again so at least my hourly rate has gone up. I've been making sweet cash the past few weeks because we've lost so many staff, but I can't keep working 40+ hour weeks while taking 9 graduate hours so hopefully I can still make enough to get by just working lunch shifts so as to leave my evenings free to study. We shall see.
All and all, things are very good right now. I'm very happy. (^_^) Thursday after class I am driving up to Manhattan to spend Labor Day Weekend with Max and I'm naturally super-excited about that. Then I've got to buckle down and make some money to pay for the extra textbooks Enterline added to his courses. I'm just happy to be where I am though so I'm not going to complain. Too much, anyway.
Whoa I almost had a panic attack when I got the 20-page syllabus for Comparative Politics Proseminar and realized that I was unaware of the summer reading assignment there apparently was. Fortunately, the majority of the class was unaware of this assignment so I was saved the embarassment of being the only person unable to participate in the discussion of the articles. On the contrary, I found myself almost leading the discussion on the changes in the field in a post-9/11 system. Woo hoo!
Now all I have to deal with in the class in the "publication-worthy final paper that should develop into your masters thesis." Holy crap day one and I have to pick a thesis topic?! Well, not quite but Dr. Mason definitely rightly recommends that we start thinking about it as we do our research design. ;(-_-)
The nice thing about the three classes I am taking is that for the most part it is all the same people in class with me. In just two days I've met a lot of really nice and interesting people that are just starting in the program too, though I feel like the only one who doesn't have a TA position. :( I console myself with the knowledge that I make more money waiting tables, as much as it sucks.
Speaking of work, it still sucks just so everyone knows. Though I am a trainer again so at least my hourly rate has gone up. I've been making sweet cash the past few weeks because we've lost so many staff, but I can't keep working 40+ hour weeks while taking 9 graduate hours so hopefully I can still make enough to get by just working lunch shifts so as to leave my evenings free to study. We shall see.
All and all, things are very good right now. I'm very happy. (^_^) Thursday after class I am driving up to Manhattan to spend Labor Day Weekend with Max and I'm naturally super-excited about that. Then I've got to buckle down and make some money to pay for the extra textbooks Enterline added to his courses. I'm just happy to be where I am though so I'm not going to complain. Too much, anyway.