What is a typical weekend for this math graduate student like? Well, starting next week I’ll start by rewarding myself for surviving another week by watching all my awesome Thursday night TV shows (either live, if I can find a friend with cable, or this will be postponed to Friday morning when they all come online). Then I’ll probably turn in early-ish on Thursday nights because I’m quite exhausted. Friday morning I will intend to sleep in, but will probably be awake by 9AM. Then there will be some internet surfing and general lazy-ing around before starting my day. I’ll have to spend a few hours during the day grading Thursday’s quizzes/exams for my pre-calc recitations (they take either a quiz or a text EVERY Thursday). I’ll also need to proofread the upcoming quiz or exam that the lecturer writes and create a detailed solution key for my students, as well as catch up on any pre-calculus homework assignments that I haven’t done yet so that I can answer any questions they have in recitation the following week.

This teaching prep will likely take quite a few hours on Friday and perhaps a little bit of effort on Saturday if there’s a lot to do, or if I feel like being particularly thorough that week. THEN I have to spend time on Saturday doing my own work – there’s always a ridiculously difficult algebra assignment due (once one is turned in, the next one is assigned) and an equally challenging analysis assignment in limbo (again, once one is turned in, the next is assigned so there’s ALWAYS work to be done). Of course there will be studying (my first graduate exam will be in two weeks!) and other commitments as time passes, but I have more than enough work to keep me busy right now!

On top of all this stuff, I of course have house work (only downside I’ve found to living alone so far – there is NO ONE ELSE to pawn undesirable chores off on). Straightening up, dishes, laundry, grocery shopping, general cleaning, etc. I should get most of this done some time on Saturday or on Sunday morning, so that I can go out and watch football all day on Sunday!!! 🙂 THANK GOODNESS IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON AGAIN!

Oh and god forbid any friends want to spend time with me on the weekends because then my life during the week becomes hectic and hurried and stressful trying to keep up because I didn’t frontload the week with extra time on the weekend! Not that I’m complaining; I’m glad to not be lonely. And there are some really awesome people here that make me really glad I decided to take the path that I’m on. There were a lot of people who doubted the decision and either openly or secretly thought it would turn out to be a disaster for me. (Not everyone, but enough people to almost make me nervous about doing it.) But it has all been for the best so far. And I am nothing but optimistic about the next 5 years here at UNT.

With that said, I’m not complaining about the demands & work of grad school either, in spite of my whining about all the stuff I have to do on weekends just to stay afloat. It’s honestly doable right now. It’s hard and time consuming, but not impossible or even improbable. And I’m really enjoying it. Grad school is just as much about time management as it is about being intelligent (in general), knowledgeable (in your field), and hard working. And I’m finally getting into a routine! 🙂

Hope all is well in Pennsylvania… or wherever you happen to be reading from, friend! It’s all rainbows and butterflies here in Texas! (Well, not literally. But it’s still nice, warm weather and I’m doing something I love! What could be better?)