This week seems to have gone by really fast - it's saturday and instead of doing work i'm typing a blog and looking into flights for my conference in Vegas. This week was a good week.
Monday- I had the neatest thing happen - back in july i went to a site (futureme.org) where you can email yourself and it will be delivered on whatever day. I set it to be deliver oct 26 (when i'm 26.5) and i would consistently remember that this email was goin to arrive soon. However on monday it slipped my mind till I got it. It was a nice surprise and I laughed bc i had forgetten. I had written encouraging msgs to myself to keep me going as being in the career path i'm in can have its challenges.
In the afternoon i had a class that i tend to dred as its challenging for me - this week I manage to come with an idea that was chosen for discussion in the class, i was quite proud :) (phd class makes it even better :) ).
Tuesday - was a good day - was in a reflective mood and just allowed me to clue into somethings i haven't noticed before. I also talked to one of the profs from that monday class (who wasn't there) and told about my idea and we talked about it abit she suggested i tell my advisor about it maybe we can get sometihng goin on it.
Wednesday - i dont really remember wednesday.. have to think bout it....oh that's right. i had a meeting with my advisor to practice my presentation which went well - wasn't really a practice but it was more going over what i was planning to talk about each slide. Then I suggested an idea for some more research studies (one i wrote about for the phd class) and she said it was an interesting idea but will have to do more to figure out what has and hasn't been done on it.
Thursday - Thursday was a long day - i stayed at school till about 11 at night (from 9-11 was fun not work). During the day i worked on my presentation for the next day and met with my advisor again to talk about other work have on the go and set up more ideas for other studies - I appreciate how involved she is wiht my learning - i really lucked out with her.
At night there was a halloween gathering for grad students so i ended up goin shortly after nine. I was dressed as 'the road to success'.. I was dressed all in black and had "road lines" (masking tape) up both legs meeting in the middle of my stomach leading to the word "SUCCESS" - I ended up winning the prize that night for the cheapest halloween costume :) (i have access to pictures for those who want to see this)
Friday - yesterday was my presentation - i was really nervous for it, but it went really well - I was up talking with not looking at the notes and i was surprised by that. People complimented me and gave me some feedback on how to keep making it better. After that i was tired (didn't sleep enough throughout the week) so i wasn't really getting much done - ended leaving school earlier than normal (about 5pm) and went shopping with a friend of mine bought some things (yay slippers lol) - and then spent the rest of the night relaxing.
Today - is a bit of a slack day and feeling some guilt but oh well - i need to rest more i work too hard.
This week has made me feel more confident with school - i have had some shaky moments and the success of the presentation and great meetings and such - just makes me feel like i'm geting back to myself - after some shaky times from last year. I know I'm quite capable of succeeding in grad school and becoming a professor but i have had moment where my confidence has been damaged so working my way to getting it back to a high level and I think i'm on my way there.
Here's to a great week and many more to come :)
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
weekend and thoughts
Tired at the moment and looking for a way to wake up so that I can get some work done in the last hours of the weekend. My weekend has been good - relief it was a more positive weekend. Weekends for me lately have been something I dread - so it's nice to have a weekend where I did not worry.
Yesterday is a bit of a blur to me but I'm sure as I type - I will remember what happened... let's try Friday first instead. Friday evening after doing some work and chatting with a good friend - I watched a movie that was good BUT I fell asleep - by the time i put it on - it was midnight and normally staying up till 2 isn't a challenge. However with the hours I have been pulling lately - i struggled and about half way through the movie turned it off.
Yesterday I watched that movie while awake and did some work. Today I went to lunch with a friend - it was nice to take some time to hang out with her outside of school - she's a great girl, lots of potential for her, sounds like she's headed the same direction of me - working hard and working jobs at the same time (I'm thankful that I dont have to work too many hours this year). That's pretty much my weekend.
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Side note on something that's on my mind.
I have been reading a friends blog - she's currently Kenya helping orphan children and what she's been writing about blows my mind. I had another friend in cambodia for sometime working with children in sex trafficking and again the things I would read and hear about...I just can't put into words.
These women- I have to comment just how amazing they are for doing these things. It takes alot of strength to go somewhere very different to what we're culturally use to. The sights these woman have seen, deal with, take great courage.
To my friend who has gone and come back to Canada, I think you are absolutely amazing and I am glad to have someone like you in my life :). Please remember the gift you have given to others and just how appreciated you are - whether here or back there. I wish you the best in your next journey ahead :).
To my friend who is still in Kenya, you are amazing and i'm glad i have you in my life :). I sent you a text message the other day, not sure if you got it. I'm so sorry at the difficulties you are facing, stay strong and remember how much of a difference you are making in these children's lives. To them you are a gift they will treasure forever. I think you are amazing for enduring the things you do. I know you will take from these experiences and pass it on for others to learn from. Keep on writing those blogs - i keep reading. You are in my thoughts and I send you the best - you are a special person, remember that.
Both of these women have inspired me and brought back somethings into my awareness that I have forgotten about. When we complain about small mediocre things, do we realize that someone else has it much worse. I know some of us has experienced some difficult things in life (I know I have) and we face daily challenges that break us down. But we do not face the daily challenge that others who are less fortunate experience. We are LUCKY, we are in a wealthy country, we have money, houses, food, support systems. We are RICH (whether we see it or not). They have inspired me to be further grateful for the things I have. And to appreciate that some of my blogs may seem mundane when I say on here is what I did today - i went to school and then back home for an evening of relaxation. But yet - I am fortunate enough to be in school, I have money, I have friends and family who love and support me, I have food, I have a roof over my shoulder, not so mundane anymore.... my life is a gift.
Here's to appreciation for what we have, may we continue to be truly thankful.
Yesterday is a bit of a blur to me but I'm sure as I type - I will remember what happened... let's try Friday first instead. Friday evening after doing some work and chatting with a good friend - I watched a movie that was good BUT I fell asleep - by the time i put it on - it was midnight and normally staying up till 2 isn't a challenge. However with the hours I have been pulling lately - i struggled and about half way through the movie turned it off.
Yesterday I watched that movie while awake and did some work. Today I went to lunch with a friend - it was nice to take some time to hang out with her outside of school - she's a great girl, lots of potential for her, sounds like she's headed the same direction of me - working hard and working jobs at the same time (I'm thankful that I dont have to work too many hours this year). That's pretty much my weekend.
--------
Side note on something that's on my mind.
I have been reading a friends blog - she's currently Kenya helping orphan children and what she's been writing about blows my mind. I had another friend in cambodia for sometime working with children in sex trafficking and again the things I would read and hear about...I just can't put into words.
These women- I have to comment just how amazing they are for doing these things. It takes alot of strength to go somewhere very different to what we're culturally use to. The sights these woman have seen, deal with, take great courage.
To my friend who has gone and come back to Canada, I think you are absolutely amazing and I am glad to have someone like you in my life :). Please remember the gift you have given to others and just how appreciated you are - whether here or back there. I wish you the best in your next journey ahead :).
To my friend who is still in Kenya, you are amazing and i'm glad i have you in my life :). I sent you a text message the other day, not sure if you got it. I'm so sorry at the difficulties you are facing, stay strong and remember how much of a difference you are making in these children's lives. To them you are a gift they will treasure forever. I think you are amazing for enduring the things you do. I know you will take from these experiences and pass it on for others to learn from. Keep on writing those blogs - i keep reading. You are in my thoughts and I send you the best - you are a special person, remember that.
Both of these women have inspired me and brought back somethings into my awareness that I have forgotten about. When we complain about small mediocre things, do we realize that someone else has it much worse. I know some of us has experienced some difficult things in life (I know I have) and we face daily challenges that break us down. But we do not face the daily challenge that others who are less fortunate experience. We are LUCKY, we are in a wealthy country, we have money, houses, food, support systems. We are RICH (whether we see it or not). They have inspired me to be further grateful for the things I have. And to appreciate that some of my blogs may seem mundane when I say on here is what I did today - i went to school and then back home for an evening of relaxation. But yet - I am fortunate enough to be in school, I have money, I have friends and family who love and support me, I have food, I have a roof over my shoulder, not so mundane anymore.... my life is a gift.
Here's to appreciation for what we have, may we continue to be truly thankful.
Friday, October 23, 2009
a not so productive friday...academically
I woke up this morning feeling like I wanted to stay in bed and just sleep for the day but finally about 8 am I got myself out of bed and ready for school. When I got to school (about 10), I had great intentions to start my work until the lunch I was attending at 1230. Unfortunately my intentions to work remained just that, intentions. I took some time - talked with a friend I dont talk with often while the guilt of not doing my work was at the back of my mind.
Twelve thirty came along and I headed to lunch with some faculty, students and the guest speaker today. The guest speaker was kind and quite sociable, we had a great time at lunch, talking about research (hers was about rituals and routines in families), joking and enjoying good food. I'm glad I decided to go to lunch. It gave me the opportunity not only to meet some new faces but also realize that a prof in my area that i found quite intimidating, not so intimidating afterall. We had some laughs and chatted, it was comforting.
After the lunch we headed to the room where the talk took place. She was a good speaker. I have some guilt, I was feeling sleepy during the talk and had to fight with myself to stay awake (not due to her). I sometimes have trouble staying awake in lectures - no matter how animated the speaker is- it's like my body assumes it's time to rest when I'm just sitting and listening. SO for the first half hour of the talk I had to fight to stay awake and then manage to stay alert for the second half of the talk.
After the talk was a reception with food :). I ate some and set up two plates (little) for later as i believe they throw out what's left. I dont like that so whenever i go to these types of receptions I try to grab what i can and encourage others as well. I prefer that food does not go to waste, such a value thing food is.
I finally headed up again to the lab again with the intention to do work (about 4) but instead for about an hour talked with an older grad students about the challenges in grad school and feeling so tired yet still feeling the need to work. Everytime I talk with her - I feel better, knowing I'm not alone and that I am doing a good job just have to give myself some time for breaks and fun. Finally about 5 or so I started into some work.
Twelve thirty came along and I headed to lunch with some faculty, students and the guest speaker today. The guest speaker was kind and quite sociable, we had a great time at lunch, talking about research (hers was about rituals and routines in families), joking and enjoying good food. I'm glad I decided to go to lunch. It gave me the opportunity not only to meet some new faces but also realize that a prof in my area that i found quite intimidating, not so intimidating afterall. We had some laughs and chatted, it was comforting.
After the lunch we headed to the room where the talk took place. She was a good speaker. I have some guilt, I was feeling sleepy during the talk and had to fight with myself to stay awake (not due to her). I sometimes have trouble staying awake in lectures - no matter how animated the speaker is- it's like my body assumes it's time to rest when I'm just sitting and listening. SO for the first half hour of the talk I had to fight to stay awake and then manage to stay alert for the second half of the talk.
After the talk was a reception with food :). I ate some and set up two plates (little) for later as i believe they throw out what's left. I dont like that so whenever i go to these types of receptions I try to grab what i can and encourage others as well. I prefer that food does not go to waste, such a value thing food is.
I finally headed up again to the lab again with the intention to do work (about 4) but instead for about an hour talked with an older grad students about the challenges in grad school and feeling so tired yet still feeling the need to work. Everytime I talk with her - I feel better, knowing I'm not alone and that I am doing a good job just have to give myself some time for breaks and fun. Finally about 5 or so I started into some work.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
It's been awhile...
It's been a long time since I posted a new blog (unlike some other friends who keep up on a regular basis - kudos to you!), grad school has definitely been keeping me busy. If i were to sum up the graduate school experience thus far in a couple of words i would say 'roller coaster.' A more elaborate explanation would be that it has it's ups and downs and I'm trying to keep the ups longer and more frequent. Grad school has definitely challenged me and i'm still going strong. I have an amazing support system when i feel like things are about to crumble and when I want to burst with excitement.
Latest update - I have received my first installment of the national scholarship that I was awarded last spring and its such a great feeling :). I'm onto the third study of my thesis (it's almost ready to go), the second study for the side work i'm doing with another prof and i've started a new study separate from my thesis work that I think is absolutely amazing (nerd i know for being so excited about research lol).
Currently i have been tryin to work on being consistent with my hours so i can make sure to take some time and just veg or whatever. Along with this i'm tryin to get up earlier and it has been somewhat challenging - i keep aiming for 6,630 and instead waking up at 7,730 lol.
As night approaches I get excited for sleep - i usually have long days so get really tired about 10 pm... so right now i'm really tired. I have quite the exciting life eh? lol - I wake up, get ready for school, try to get to school for 8am or around there and then come home from school - watch tv and eat, and then try to maybe do more work... but to be honest, i love what i'm doing so i'm good with my day consisting of what I just mentioned. I love research and teaching when I get a chance - it's amazing!
The added perks, I can take a few days get away if I need - it's quite flexible. I have conferences in some cool places (next place is Vegas) and i meet tons of great people, I say it's a great life.
Here's to continued love for what I do :)
Latest update - I have received my first installment of the national scholarship that I was awarded last spring and its such a great feeling :). I'm onto the third study of my thesis (it's almost ready to go), the second study for the side work i'm doing with another prof and i've started a new study separate from my thesis work that I think is absolutely amazing (nerd i know for being so excited about research lol).
Currently i have been tryin to work on being consistent with my hours so i can make sure to take some time and just veg or whatever. Along with this i'm tryin to get up earlier and it has been somewhat challenging - i keep aiming for 6,630 and instead waking up at 7,730 lol.
As night approaches I get excited for sleep - i usually have long days so get really tired about 10 pm... so right now i'm really tired. I have quite the exciting life eh? lol - I wake up, get ready for school, try to get to school for 8am or around there and then come home from school - watch tv and eat, and then try to maybe do more work... but to be honest, i love what i'm doing so i'm good with my day consisting of what I just mentioned. I love research and teaching when I get a chance - it's amazing!
The added perks, I can take a few days get away if I need - it's quite flexible. I have conferences in some cool places (next place is Vegas) and i meet tons of great people, I say it's a great life.
Here's to continued love for what I do :)
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