...until I get somewhat of a break (somewhat being the operative term here). I'm surviving, but barely. Last week was technically my midterm week, and it was awful. I stayed up on two nights past 5:30 a.m. writing papers. Procrastination was not the cause of these late nights, believe it or not! I encountered some terrible writer's block while typing the first one; the second one is a work that I'm considering sending to graduate schools as a writing sample, so I naturally wanted it to be very good. When it came to this latter paper, I spent what probably amounted to entirely too much time revising and editing it while also despairing over what I think is my slim chance of getting into a Master's program. Anyway, other than completing the two papers, I took a Greek exam and a written exam for CLA 450G. Lots of reading as well as Sanskrit and Greek homework were somehow fitted into my schedule too.Anyway, enough of that. I'm certainly not under the impression that I'm the only college student who had a crazy midterm week. Plus, I'm fairly certain that graduate students would want to beat me for complaining. I still don't think I can fully comprehend the utter chaos that seems to surround the poor graduate students. That's something for me to look forward to, no?
What other new, interesting, and fascinating things are happening in my life? Thanks for asking.
- My midterm paper for CLA 450G (The Art of Ancient Warfare) covered unconventional elements--specifically warfare tactics--of the Peloponnesian War. The ideal length of the paper was only five pages, and I realized rather quickly that I'd have to narrow down my topic a little more. I ended up focusing on those unconventional tactics used in the Archidamian phase of the war (431 B.C.-421 B.C.). I was satisfied with the final paper, although I feel that it still needs some serious revision before sending it off to graduate schools! Scary!
- Speaking of this whole graduate school application process, I actually chanced upon a recommendation the other week. This couldn't have come at a more opportune time because I was looking for one additional professor whom I could ask to write a letter on my behalf. I happened to be wandering around the 17th floor rather aimlessly while waiting for a certain instructor to return to his office. I walked past the office of my medieval law professor, and she invited me in. She actually assumed that I came to ask her for a recommendation, which caught me completely off guard. We chatted for awhile about some general things, including her confusion regarding what, if anything, students learn in ENG 104 at UK. This is something I've always pondered myself. Before I left her office, she told me to come back to her whenever I needed the recommendation letter. This is awesome for two reasons: (1) she's a tenured professor with strong credentials and (2) the fact that she was very willing to help made me feel a bit more confident. I would not have thought about asking her before our random encounter simply because I felt that I could have made a better showing in her class last spring. Although I received an A for a final grade, I missed more classes than was reasonable and didn't participate too much. I suppose professors can still think highly of a student's abilities regardless of signs that may point to the contrary. I'm glad that this particular instructor respects me enough to voluntarily be a part of my graduate school application process.
- I had all A's and one B for my midterm grades. The B was in Sanskrit; I was expecting it, too. Our midterm grade in that class was based solely on 13 or 14 homework grades and, while I received nothing lower than an A on the ones I turned in, I let two of them slip through the cracks completely. Sometimes I just don't to my homework. I usually end up paying for it. Anyway, we're moving at a very quick pace--about one chapter per class meeting--so I'm a little behind. It helps that the professor is great and is very understanding. Having had only half a semester of this language, I have the utmost respect for anyone who has learned Sanskrit incredibly well. It's fascinating and sometimes even fun, but it's incredibly difficult. The fact that I've learned a good amount of Greek and Latin has helped me immensely in terms of learning cases, declensions, conjugations and syntax, but some of the linguistic concepts involved in Sanskrit have given me a lot of difficulty. If you ever want to give yourself a migraine, study Sanskrit and learn internal and external sandi rules, then try to transliterate and deconstruct a huge Sanskrit sentence. I'm still debating whether or not I'm going to stay in Sanskrit next semester or replace it with a Latin or Greek class.
- I encountered a new breed of social deviant last night at my favorite/least favorite coffee shop in Lexington. (This in itself is crazy, considering that I have previously had interactions here with the gamut of weirdos.) Intending to work on a presentation, I wandered into one of the upstairs rooms, in which there was a younger guy and girl couple at one table and two young women at another table. While unpacking my things, I noticed that the couple was looking in my direction and kind of snickering. Okay, so I established quickly that those two enjoyed acting like high schoolers. Great. After I had been typing for a few minutes, the guy turned in my direction and gave me the most irritated look. I asked him if there was a problem, and he told me that I was typing too loudly. WOW. Really, asshole? I'll try not to breathe while I'm at it too. The two other women in the room were conversing in Spanish at a pretty reasonable voice level. All of a sudden, the jerk turned to them and demanded that they "take their useless conversation elsewhere." The girls lowered their voices but didn't leave, so he proceeded to become angry yet again. I ended up moving into a different room because I couldn't handle his utter douchebaggery. I understand that going to any coffee shop is somewhat of a gamble if one requires silence to be able to focus. If the idiot absolutely needed complete noiselessness, he should have gone to the damn library. It didn't help that he spoke to me as if I were sixteen years old. In reality, I am probably much older than he. Maybe I should have pulled out the age card. Oh well. Ridiculous!
- Despite the fact that I'm very stressed with school, life is going very well in general. I do wish that I had more time to spend with a few particular individuals, but I'll survive! Laetissima femina sum!
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