So I am feeling REALLY good today. In spite of infuriating missed penalty calls in the Steelers game last night, they still won against a strong division rival to take first place in the division, so that’s awesome. Plus, I got an algebra assignment back this morning in which I only got 3 points taken off AND I got a bonus point on one of the problems because my solution was so pretty. And I got notes all over the assignment that said “Good!” or “Nice!” which is a real confidence booster considering my grades in that class have been quite shaky. I am just really happy about it. And with how terrible my grades have been in analysis, it’s nice to know that I’m showing I deserve to be in this program in at least one of my classes. (Okay, my grades have been TOLERABLE in analysis, but nowhere near how high I would LIKE them to be.) But I started that algebra assignment on time and I typed it up and put a lot of effort into it, so I’m glad that my grade reflects that.
The next week and a half is going to be so busy and so stressful but I am in such a good mood today I don’t care. I have problem sets due next week in both Algebra AND Analysis, plus final exams next week in each of those classes (on Monday and Tuesday, no less – I don’t even have the whole week next week to study!). And I have to write up a teaching philosophy document for my teaching class. How do I feel about teaching and learning, and how would my beliefs about teaching affect my approach to teaching a large lecture class vs teaching a small class of self-motivated students? It’s a lot to do, but I don’t intend to waste any time. I was lazy the past few days, so I am relaxed and refreshed and my brain is ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.
I did clean my apartment this weekend, though, in spite of my laziness. And I cleaned my office this morning when I got in. And a clean working space goes a long way toward helping me with my productivity so I think it’s going to be a great week. And this good mood is helping me feel more excited about spending two weeks at home (instead of stressed about it), which is good. And this is the fourth sentence in a row that I’ve started with “and,” which is a sign of bad writing. Oh well.
Hmmm. What else, what else? Not a whole lot more to report. This semester is coming to a close and break is so close I can almost taste it. I’m having a good time and I am enjoying living in Texas and I am enjoying the grad school experience. As high stress as it is, it is also very rewarding at times. It’ll be even more rewarding once I pass qualifying exams, and then EVEN MORE rewarding when I graduate. But for now I’ll take the good days when they come and I’ll take the bad days too.
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