I started out today hating grad school. I gave up procrastination in my 2nd senior year, and because of that my life has been enhanced. For some reason (possibly having to do with having class, a full-time job, no planning period, and a puppy), this semester I procrastinated, and I did so mightily. All of the things on which I procrastinated were fairly simple assignments that I knew wouldn’t take forever, so it wasn’t a huge deal. It became a huge deal, however, when I realized that ALL of them were due at the same time.
Siderant: I do not like my professor this semester, nor do I like the topic of the class in general. This makes it difficult to care about the work.
SO, back to today. I found myself faced with the following to-do list:
_Outline and 2-page report (summary & criticism) on article “Research with Language-Minority Students”- due Saturday at noon
_20-25 minute presentation on said report- due Tuesday at class
_Handout to go along with the aforementioned presentation- also due Tuesday at class
_Read Mike Rose’s Lives on the Boundary and write a 400-word post on what the book says about teaching English in the 21st century- post due Sunday by 5:00
_Write a draft of my final research paper in order to meet with Dr. Jones- due Tuesday before class
-Redo prospectus because Dr. Jones does a bad job of communicating her expectations- due at an ambiguous time because Dr. Jones does a bad job of communicating her expectations
I finished & submitted the report, outline, and handout this morning then drove to Marshville to sit in a coffee shop and read the book and write the post. Between all of the thou-billion things I could be doing at my house and the puppy nipping at my ankles, home was a toxic place to work. I still have to write the paper, but I’ve given up working for the night. I find it difficult to let go of the fact that I could be working, even though I did a crapload of work today.
I said all that to say this: I am freaking ready for 1) Easter break, and 2) May when this class is over. My class last semester was challenging, but I found it relevant. This class isn’t necessarily challenging, I find it arbitrary, and it frustrates the crap out of me.
Wow…this post was a completely self-serving rant. My apologies.
I love it. My professors know my blog…and I can’t complain about them on it. Boo. Although I don’t generally want to complain. Yay!
Ha…It’s more likely for your professors to know your blog when you basically live on your campus- you guys are there all day pretty much every day! I’m at Pembroke once a week for three hours. The only reason I drive the hour to go out there otherwise is if they’re offering some great theater. (I got Avenue Q tickets for $5 a piece.)
There are only 4 core classes we have to take on things like Literacy in Context (about issues in literacy, which is the one I currently hate) or Teaching of Writing (which I enjoyed). Beyond that I get to pick from fun literature-specific classes like Asian American literature or Americans in Paris. I’m excited for the classes I get to pick.
I appreciate that you took the time to procrastinate by blogging this self-serving rant. Let it all out, sister. (I will henceforth shut up, as my obligations right now are a fraction of yours.)
Sometimes one needs a completely self serving rant. I often want to do this on twitter and then find myself second guessing that. But having an outlet is important I think. I hope your next class or semester is far far better
Thanks, Kirsten. I’m confident it will be- it’s Advanced Creative Writing.