Not by the class material--it's very engaging--or by discussion board posts or readings--also interesting and enlightening--but sometimes I just get work done and find myself twiddling my thumbs.
Now, I realize I'm probably in the minority, which is why I generally don't voice things like this (I have an awful feeling I'd be lynched if I told my classmates how much time I don't spend studying on the weekends), but when I read this article on Hack Library School about having no time and finding ways to deal with that, it made me feel like I was missing out.
So let this be my cry in the wilderness to those of you who are doing just fine:
- It's OK to ignore the stressed-out venting of your colleagues. Don't let it stress you out.
- It's OK to listen to all the lectures at once so you don't have to do it later.
- It's OK to skip readings if they are really, terribly, unacceptably boring.
- It's OK to read books for fun. Don't let that "good grad student voice" make you feel guilty.
- It's OK to look at the directions, do the assignment, and turn it in without comparing your work to everyone else's. If you did what you were supposed to do, you'll be fine. Promise.
For me, I think the most important thing I've learned these past couple quarters is that IT'S OK TO BE OK. I did a lot of stressing about why I wasn't stressing, and now I'm over it.
Library school isn't your life. It's just a part of it.
I think you'll find once you get deeper into your program and start doing things that will actually relate getting employeed things will become more interesting (by which I mean busy). But if your a first year student it taking intro and easy classes, then its definitely ok to be ok.
ReplyDeleteI felt the exact same way you did until this term. Now I've gone from working 25 hours a week to closer to 45 hours a week, and my database class has two 70 minute lectures and an assignment every week. That's not counting meetings for committees and student organizations which works out to between 2 and 3 a week. My first term I took mostly online classes, mostly introduction and required classes, and worked 10 hours a week.
Thanks for writing your post! People definitely need to know that it's ok not to be stressed out. I just wanted to let people know that it was ok to be stressed out too.
Hey Zack,
ReplyDeleteI actually am employed. I work full-time as a circulation supervisor in a university library (which is why I had to go the online route). So I definitely understand the balance between work and school. Luckily, being online is a bit more flexible; I'm sure that's what makes it easier for me. I couldn't imagine having to actually GO to class. Difficulty probably varies from program to program, too. I just don't want to support the idea that library students need to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off all the time. Stress less, enjoy more.
Keep on keepin on!
I hope you continue writing because you have a writing style that is unique. Many readers will surely continue reading more of your work.
ReplyDeleteinternational relations degree online