This year I have a giant, scary, overwhelming list titled (in my mind at least):
THINGS THAT MUST HAPPEN OR THE WORLD WILL PROBABLY END.
And on that list were things like dissertation (finish edits on the prospectus and then do a ton of other work in order to be able to then write the results and discussion sections, and then defend it, and then do all the electronic formatting stuff and paperwork stuff to make it all official with the university), and internship (work an hour away, from 8-4 every day, to get 1500 clock hours divided into specific categories), and have a baby and raise a toddler without messing up either of those first two things.
Just thinking about it all summer has been so overwhelming that I've done basically nothing to prepare for any of the big three scary things on the list. I don't think I've touched good ol' dissy since the day I proposed her. And that was when I was still reeling from the sleepless, stressful crazy-making mess of prelims. Do you hear the sad symphony of all those tiny violins?
So, as I've started to ease in to this semester, I've decided that it might be a good choice to start thinking of my list in a slightly different way. I'm going to call it:
Just thinking about it all summer has been so overwhelming that I've done basically nothing to prepare for any of the big three scary things on the list. I don't think I've touched good ol' dissy since the day I proposed her. And that was when I was still reeling from the sleepless, stressful crazy-making mess of prelims. Do you hear the sad symphony of all those tiny violins?
So, as I've started to ease in to this semester, I've decided that it might be a good choice to start thinking of my list in a slightly different way. I'm going to call it:
A Prioritized List of Things I'll Work on This Year (and if I don't get them all done by May 12th, I will finish them soon after that and that's okay).
The title could use some work. Maybe I should just say "I'm doing my best at x, y, and z. And my best is good enough." Anyhow, the list has the same three big items (prioritized differently depending on the day really), but it's not quite as stressful or scary when I allow myself a little freedom to realize that everything might not fall into place just so, and I might not officially graduate on May 12th, and THAT'S OKAY. (I might still be trying to convince myself, just a little...)
Now, as for graduation plans, I'm not sure exactly what this will mean. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm sure there will still be some sort of party because I will require champagne and ice cream cake and those mini quiches I adore. :)
Now, as for graduation plans, I'm not sure exactly what this will mean. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm sure there will still be some sort of party because I will require champagne and ice cream cake and those mini quiches I adore. :)
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