Busy, busy, dreadfully busy...
I'm halfway through my third week of the semester, and I've already been fighting to stay afloat.
This is going to be an interesting semester. On one hand, I love my classes. I love the fact that I'm working in the clinic. I love that I am still continuing with ASL, both as a TA for the beginner's class and as an independent study. Everything has really been great so far.
On the other hand, I am really busy. I have already given a presentation and am currently writing my eighth paper for one of my classes, and we have only met five times this semester. (You do the math on that one.) I typically have to read a stack of articles every week. I have already been assigned my first client (!), and my work load in the clinic will increase as the semester goes on. As an admin TA, I have to teach as well as help the new TAs with all of their problems and questions. And unlike last fall, I am spending hours every week helping out with research, including my thesis.
The neat thing about grad school - well, about life in general - is that we always think we know the limits of what we are capable of, but we can learn to handle more. When I was in undergrad, involved in extracurricular groups and a full class load, I always thought that I had a "busy" schedule. But now that I'm spending many more hours every day with school, work and extracurricular obligations, I realize that I can handle a lot more stress than I used to be able to, even though I thought I was good at managing it. It's neat to be able to look back on my life and see how my abilities to accomplish things have grown.
Of course, I still don't want to do my homework. I mean, I have a better understanding about why it's important. I just don't want to do it. :P
Friday is the Deaf coffee chat in Crystal Lake. I've been there several times now, and I think I'm going to try and make a habit of going every month. It's a great way to practice ASL and to see how much I am learning.
In other news: I have been in communication with a woman through eHarmony who seems really cool. Her name is Karen, and she is a 6th-grade language arts/social studies teacher. We've talked on the phone a few times and I've really enjoyed talking to her, so I'm curious to see where this goes.
Hope you all had a fun Labor Day weekend and that you're enjoying whatever it is you're doing!
This is going to be an interesting semester. On one hand, I love my classes. I love the fact that I'm working in the clinic. I love that I am still continuing with ASL, both as a TA for the beginner's class and as an independent study. Everything has really been great so far.
On the other hand, I am really busy. I have already given a presentation and am currently writing my eighth paper for one of my classes, and we have only met five times this semester. (You do the math on that one.) I typically have to read a stack of articles every week. I have already been assigned my first client (!), and my work load in the clinic will increase as the semester goes on. As an admin TA, I have to teach as well as help the new TAs with all of their problems and questions. And unlike last fall, I am spending hours every week helping out with research, including my thesis.
The neat thing about grad school - well, about life in general - is that we always think we know the limits of what we are capable of, but we can learn to handle more. When I was in undergrad, involved in extracurricular groups and a full class load, I always thought that I had a "busy" schedule. But now that I'm spending many more hours every day with school, work and extracurricular obligations, I realize that I can handle a lot more stress than I used to be able to, even though I thought I was good at managing it. It's neat to be able to look back on my life and see how my abilities to accomplish things have grown.
Of course, I still don't want to do my homework. I mean, I have a better understanding about why it's important. I just don't want to do it. :P
Friday is the Deaf coffee chat in Crystal Lake. I've been there several times now, and I think I'm going to try and make a habit of going every month. It's a great way to practice ASL and to see how much I am learning.
In other news: I have been in communication with a woman through eHarmony who seems really cool. Her name is Karen, and she is a 6th-grade language arts/social studies teacher. We've talked on the phone a few times and I've really enjoyed talking to her, so I'm curious to see where this goes.
Hope you all had a fun Labor Day weekend and that you're enjoying whatever it is you're doing!