lordkalkin

Today I stayed in and worked. I graded half of my moppets' exams, and wrote the first few pages of one my term papers. I didn't work on my personal statement, and I might not get the chance to this weekend. My prof wants the exams on Wednesday, which means I have to make the other half tomorrow since I won't have time on Monday or Tuesday. I could really fuck with his shit and give them to him Monday, but I'd rather let him hang on it. It gives me time to go over them again, adjust the grades as I see fit, and make sure I graded fairly consistently. On the term paper front, I think I have a better handle on it this time than I did last year. I don't anticipate the same range of problems as last time. I got started early on this one, and I've done reading for it since October, earlier than others, I know.

My Latin professor, Dr Shaw, told me before I left UNO that finishing grad school required a bit of selfishness. I think he had a point. This term, I've maintained a strict priority with my time, bumping most social stuff to the bottom of the list, and I've kept my cool far better than I did last year when I constantly put weight on going to department social functions. In order for me to keep up on my work, I've got to maintain honesty about my course load and not worry about things I have to drop that come lower on the list every time.

This term, I've also discovered the yin approach to work. I need time, lots of it, unfilled. If I have many hours to kill, I'll get work done, quality work, work ahead of time. If I have a tight schedule, with all manner of things packed in and only so much free time, I spend too much time freaking out over how much stuff I have to do that I don't get any work done. I get things done, and I feel good about it. I think this approach also makes up for the slack lost in grad school. I feel like I've got a slacker's way of working.

Ok, I and I am stoned now.

heh.