What's the hardest part of grad school, you ask? For me, it's sitting myself down and doing the readings.
Once I get into the reading and have committed to reading, it tends to be pretty easy. Sometimes I struggle with the material (like when reading Marx or Gramsci) but for the most part, it's not too bad, the reading load. What is bad is convincing myself that I should be reading NOW and that reading will, in fact, be enjoyable. So often I spend hours and days avoiding my homework, watching that latest television show, checking my email once more and I've wasted all of the time I could have spent reading doing nothing and now the time that I could be spending lounging or hanging out with friends must be spent reading.
It's all about time management.
You could say that time management's the hardest thing about grad school.
The only person I'm really fighting here is myself.
I think in general I might be getting a bit better at reading ahead of time but I know that I'm still earning a C- at most when it comes to time management, overall. I'm getting better at wanting to do the readings ahead of time but I still end up doing most of it the night or morning before class.
Admitting you have a problem is half the battle, right? Gah, I don't know. Hopefully it gets easier, this making yourself read anytime, anywhere stuff.
What's time management?
ReplyDeletep.s. I like that I'm the only one who leaves comments. :D
ReplyDeleteYou might even be the only one who reads. I think I'm ready to share this with people in my life that would like to know more about school...
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for grad. school! I appreciate the insight! I'm not sure how much I'll enjoy reading case law but hopefully I can keep my motivation! I'm thinking about either Case Western or U. of Denver. Check out my blogs if you ever get a chance: http://legally-blogd.blogspot.com/ and http://singlemom-v-world.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying your reflections! How do you like the weather down there?
Rachael, I've looked at your blog a bit but it's been a few weeks/months, I'm around. :) I've got a friend who's in her second year of law school and she said that the first year she spent up to 9 hours a day reading. I die after 4, law school would never be for me. Congrats on getting accepted! I know wherever you go you'll do great!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The weather here so far hasn't been too bad. I think the winter really makes up for the humidity of the summer, it's been in the 50's and 60's for almost half of January! I can deal with that, but ask me again mid-July and I'll probably have a different opinion. ;)