Someday I will look back on this and laugh
I used to think I had more energy when I was doing my MA. Back then, I worked 40 hours a week, put another 20-30 into the Dyke March, did school full time as well, and attended every social event. Where'd all that energy go, I used to wonder?
I now conclude that I am dumping it all into work. OMG. I'm juggling a dozen or more things at a time. I have multiple to-do lists. I've worked 65 hours so far this week. I'm interviewing a participant today. I'm transcribing a focus group (1/3 of it done thus far). Then I've got a meeting at CAMH about their community advisory committee. Tomorrow I'm meeting with folks from the 2-SHAWLS study on Two-spirited men with HIV to talk about being a part of the next steps for the project. So I may come out of that with a green might to write a grant application that would be due October 27th. Why do this, you may ask? I need to lead a project as a primary investigator so I can qualify for another grant in December that would support my salary, help me get a permanent job, and show I can bring in money.
Next week is also a head-smashing busy time. On Monday I have a teleconference with the OHTN folks to talk about my contract, (scary!) and then another teleconference immediately after with OHTN's Indigenous research Steering Committee. Tuesday I meet with the Director of the Social and Epidemiological Research department at CAMH to talk about maintaining a connection with the organization and (maybe) future employment there. On Wednesday I'm at the planning meeting for the Indigenous health program at the Dala Lana school, from 8:30am until 7:30pm. Thursday that meeting continues 8:30am to 4:00pm. I have no events Friday or Saturday, so that may give me some time to draft the grant and continue transcribing.
I'm also trying to schedule another interview with a study participant, look into an Aboriginal mortgage program, write some articles, etc. etc.
So yeah, I don't think I've slowed down. And if I recall correctly, I had a lot more evenings where I just cried and wanted to die during my MA, and that's not the case now. In fact, I remain oddly optimistic that this will all pay off somehow.
I now conclude that I am dumping it all into work. OMG. I'm juggling a dozen or more things at a time. I have multiple to-do lists. I've worked 65 hours so far this week. I'm interviewing a participant today. I'm transcribing a focus group (1/3 of it done thus far). Then I've got a meeting at CAMH about their community advisory committee. Tomorrow I'm meeting with folks from the 2-SHAWLS study on Two-spirited men with HIV to talk about being a part of the next steps for the project. So I may come out of that with a green might to write a grant application that would be due October 27th. Why do this, you may ask? I need to lead a project as a primary investigator so I can qualify for another grant in December that would support my salary, help me get a permanent job, and show I can bring in money.
Next week is also a head-smashing busy time. On Monday I have a teleconference with the OHTN folks to talk about my contract, (scary!) and then another teleconference immediately after with OHTN's Indigenous research Steering Committee. Tuesday I meet with the Director of the Social and Epidemiological Research department at CAMH to talk about maintaining a connection with the organization and (maybe) future employment there. On Wednesday I'm at the planning meeting for the Indigenous health program at the Dala Lana school, from 8:30am until 7:30pm. Thursday that meeting continues 8:30am to 4:00pm. I have no events Friday or Saturday, so that may give me some time to draft the grant and continue transcribing.
I'm also trying to schedule another interview with a study participant, look into an Aboriginal mortgage program, write some articles, etc. etc.
So yeah, I don't think I've slowed down. And if I recall correctly, I had a lot more evenings where I just cried and wanted to die during my MA, and that's not the case now. In fact, I remain oddly optimistic that this will all pay off somehow.