So… I’m back after disappearing for about a semester. Looking through my posts, I only wrote two posts between the last grad school reflection and this one. I haven’t even read a book in a while, which is disappointing, but this is just a wake-up call to get back on track with my yearly goal. I try my best to read at least 50 books a year, and I was about 15 books behind.
I think that this semester I had just burned out. I just didn’t want to do anything. I would go to school, do as much work as I could mentally manage, and then go home and lay around. I didn’t read, I didn’t write, and I did not take part in any of my hobbies. It utterly sucked, but there were some wins for the semester. I completed my preliminary exam, meaning I am now a Ph.D. candidate. Two, I am done with my classes. This means that I can put my full attention onto research and I don’t have to spend hours studying for classes. I’m hoping this lessens my mental burden on myself, but I’m not too sure, especially since I would like to graduate in two more years. In one way, I’m excited to start my life, but in another, I don’t want to do more adulting. Later this year, I’m getting dropped off my parent’s insurance, which terrifies me. Does this mean I will no longer have help making doctor’s appointments? I hate talking to people on the phone.
I took a month off from the semester’s end, hoping to regain some of my sanity. As of writing this, the semester ended a month ago, but I just didn’t feel like doing anything until now. I am mentally doing a lot better, which is a sign that I need to pace myself for the next two years. Let’s just see what happens in another half year.