We all have busy lives and wonder sometimes if I can actually squeeze more into my life and not fall over from exhaustion. Well, it was another week that I knew was going to be crazy. All the responsibilities and signs were evident and I knew it was going to be a commitment and a doozy of a week. For all you graduate students out there, you may have had similar weeks. Ones that you know will take every ounce of survival skills you have and every ounce of energy. Here is my seven day extravaganza week. One I will look back at this post and wonder how I survived, remind myself what I am capable of, and be proud of how much work I have completed not only to get a degree, but in truly engaging with the many communities at this University:
Monday
- finish and send my supervising professor seven documents related to the methods section of my thesis (up until 2 AM doing this)
- organize supplies and freebees for graduate students attending orientation
- apply for a professional job
- meet with a professor about a new teaching assistant position
- three hour meeting with grad students executive team
- continue buying food, prizes and thank you gifts for orientation
Tuesday
- day one of grad student orientation (that I planned): four presenters, two meals, one open house, one social activity
- purchase more prizes and thank you gifts for orientation
- meeting two with a professor about a new teaching assistant position (prof forgot the meeting, the grad students did not)
- a two hour sustainability meeting to improve University campus
- work on paper for a conference, due on Friday
Wednesday
- day two of grad student orientation: five presenters, two meals, one open house, one social activity (a quiz night that was hard to organize and not well attended)
- order food for orientation party on Thursday evening
- meeting three with a professor about a new teaching assistant position (all present)
- purchase more food for orientation
- work on paper for a conference, due on Friday
Thursday
- first seminar class for a term long course
- day two of grad student orientation: six presenters, two meals, one open house, one social activity (presenters fantastic, food great, much support from the mature and team focused executives)
- run about replenishing food, drink and snacks for bar-b-q orientation meal
- work on paper for a conference, due on Friday
- fell asleep on couch in GSA Lounge between open house and social activity due to level of tiredness
- kept the party going at the social, then moved it to a local pub, arrived home at 3 AM (not the best choice I made all week)
Friday
- first seminar class for another course taught and the group organized
- taught a lecture for a professor on monism, dualism, materialism and physicalism (thank you philosophers for both asking people to think deeply about our lives and confusing the crap out of us at the same time)
- cleaned up grad office from craziness of orientation
- organized and handed in receipts for reimbursement (much money spent, good times)
- slept for two hours
- went to bed at 9:00 PM exhausted (it felt like 3 AM...again)
Saturday
- headed out to Farm Food Discovery Centre (FFDC) two complete research for six hours
- work on paper for the conference, now due on Monday
- write a report about my grad student activities this month
- hang with a friend in this evening (she has a hot tub)
Sunday
- complete research as part of Open Farm Day at the FFDC (100 people expected, extra activities on the go)
- complete paper for conference due on Monday
- do nothing in the evening after all responsibilities are complete (so exhausted)
Monday
- do as little as possible
- sit around
- read
- go for a lovely walk
- buy some groceries
- clean my apartment
- do a little as possible (repeat as needed)
Yep, this is my week and right now I am half way through Saturday. Good luck to me for finishing off this week and only have one strongly worded conversation with two people (whose immaturity was more than evident throughout grad student orientation).
May we all survive our weeks. May we all keep going. May we find the meaning and moments of joy in the constant demands on our time, talents and energies.
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