Whew. I’m still around, but it’s been a crazy semester thus far. As usual, I thought life would calm down once I got through [insert large project/exam] and as usual, it did not.
Oral comps were three weeks ago, now, and I’m still so relieved to have that behind me. Since then I’ve had a ton of other things to do – some I had neglected leading up to comps and others are new. Here’s what’s going on with me these days, in bullet form. Hello 3rd year of the PhD…
Academic:
- We have an open faculty position and I was asked to be the student representative on the search committee. The deadline is approaching quickly and applications are flying in. This is going to be an invaluable experience when I start applying for jobs but right now it makes me feel inadequate. Must remember that this isn’t the job I want….
- Last week I attended a small, specialized conference and gave my first ever oral presentation. I’ve taught a bunch and given countless presentations within my department, but never to a roomful of researchers who wrote my text books, ran huge studies in the field, and are just rock stars in general. I’ve never been so shaky and terrified, but I survived and handled questions (from BIG names) well. Thank goodness that’s over.
- Also at the conference, I spent a lot of social time with people who might be interviewing me in a year. I think I made a good impression…
- My classes are going well, I think I have a good relationship with my students and they’re learning at least a little. Midterms are coming up soon so I guess we’ll see. In any event, I’m becoming more comfortable at the front of that room.
- The paper that was rejected in record time will go back out to another journal this week and I’ve got two analyses that are done and waiting to be written up.
- I’m also going to be starting an analysis of [big national dataset] data that is going to be really really tough but worth it in the end.
Non-academic
- With all that other stuff, running is suffering. I’m hanging onto my fitness by a thread, slowly watching my half marathon goal time slip away. We’ll see. A couple weeks ago I ran 12 miles at a pace that made me very happy and confident…I just hope I still have it. A bit less than a month to go.
- One more day til Pinktober is with us again. May I handle it with more grace than I did last year.
- Eleven months worth of hair growth is almost enough to make an actual style. I might have a baby ponytail by my birthday in January. Pig tails for sure.
- The boy is good, the dog is good, the house is neglected. My garden is even more neglected. I actually forgot about it while I was gone (and for 2 days when I got back). Woops.
That’s it for now I guess – must get back to work! I’m going to make an effort to blog a little each week, I do miss this outlet!
Hope all my readers (if I still have any at all!) are doing well…
