Subtle slap in the face
So, on Monday nights I have class from 6-8pm. This class is the hardest to attend, because who wants to go to class right after dinner??? Anyway, as I was walking down the dreary hall of Cabell last night on my way to class, I ran into my colleague and co-TA who was also on her way to the said class. We bemoaned how we hate coming to this class. I said something like, "I feel like a third grader! I'm always saying, 'I don't want to go to school.'" And in a very subtle way, dear Jenny cut to the heart of the issue when she said, "I know. What's our problem?? We have this amazing opportunity, and we don't even want it." Her words haunted me for the remainder of the night. Seriously, what is my problem??? Even today in America, a HUGE minority of people graduate from college (something along the lines of 20%). That's college - so I am among the even more privillegded with the opportunity to attend graduate school - at a really good school. So, I'm starting to think that I should quit complaining all the time about how much being in grad school sucks, and I should take advantage of the opportunity. Not that it will be easy - I still have to muster up the motivation to write there more papers. But, I should be looking at it this way: I have the privilledge of writing and having my work evaluated by 1) one of the most controversial figures in stratification research, 2) an amazing race scholar, and 3) a great statistician and family researcher. I had better get my butt in gear.
4 comments:
Eh, we always hate what we're doing. It's fun as long as there's no obligation involved.
For instance, I have the privilege of gainful employment that pays all my bills. That's not something everyone in the world has. Never mind that the jobs both suck and I would cut off my right arm to get into grad school (it's just so much WORK to get there); but when I do get back in school, I'll grumble about whatever's involved with that.
But I hope your wiser mindset pays off! :)
sbp is right - the grass is always greener on the . . . yeah, finish it yourself, it's so cliche.
Right now I have almost nothing taking up my time and I constantly complain that I miss college and being so busy that I lost sleep and got stress headaches about my complete and utter business. Someday in the future these lazy, indolent hours will seem like a blissful dream that will never come true again, but right now, "WAAAA! I'm BORED!" ;) I even fulfilled a life-long dream of owning a cat recently, but I STILL complain about my life. The key is to emphasize the positive and b***h-slap the negative and LIVE LIFE. You can do this, Gorgeous!
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a cat to bother. :-D
Mair, I think you're doing just fine. As the ladies above said, it's natural to question what you're doing even if it's something you were sure you wanted to. I'd say you're experiencing the reactions of a thoughtful person.
man, for a second there, i thought that you had a professor who was an expert on "The Amazing Race" ... and I immediately wanted to apply to your school just to meet him.
How pathetic can I be?
*hint: not pathetic enough*
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