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blah blah school
I had somehow managed to forget how incredibly exhausting school can be. I have been bone tired for the last two days, and I haven't even been (that) short of sleep.
My Russia, Ukraine and the other successor states to the USSR class is kicking my butt. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm unlikely to get anything higher than a B in it, for various reasons. (Mostly because it's least important on my personal ranking of classes, so when I do the readings [which are unholy massive; as much weekly reading as my other four classes combined], I really only read the chapter summaries. Not to mention it's slotted very poorly on my schedule, so by the time that class rolls around, I'm always tired and cranky. Fuck Tuesdays, seriously.)
I noticed last night that my favourite classes are ones where I can take more control. My political analysis class, for example -- my seminar is frustrating but also kind of awesome because we're separated into the same seating groups for critical assignments that lead to discussion, and my group just doesn't give a shit. They will sit there in silence until I do all the thinking and speaking, because a great deal of the time they haven't even done the readings. I'm the one who talks, who presents the results of our "discussion" to the other groups. It sounds frustrating as fuck, and it is, but it's also a lot easier in the long run because I know I'm right and don't have to actively defend that. As well, me carrying the group means I get all the seminar participation marks. :D
I don't have that feeling at all in my Russian class, or even in Canadian politics -- both are second year classes, and in both I'm constantly bull dozed by studentsthat I want to punch in the mouth sometimes that have more seminar experience than me.
At least in those classes, I am given other avenues for marks. Russia requires a weekly list of questions to be handed in, and my Canadian politics TA recognises my situation and lets me come see her after the seminar for extra marks. (She's also incredibly hot. My Canadian politics TA. I don't understand how everyone in academia is so attractive!)
I am doing okay. The worst of it doesn't seem nearly as bad when I give myself a few minutes to relax and list things out. It's funny how easily I can discourage myself into thinking I'm doing poorly when I'm going to all my lectures, keeping up with my reading, and handing things in on time. :/
My Russia, Ukraine and the other successor states to the USSR class is kicking my butt. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm unlikely to get anything higher than a B in it, for various reasons. (Mostly because it's least important on my personal ranking of classes, so when I do the readings [which are unholy massive; as much weekly reading as my other four classes combined], I really only read the chapter summaries. Not to mention it's slotted very poorly on my schedule, so by the time that class rolls around, I'm always tired and cranky. Fuck Tuesdays, seriously.)
I noticed last night that my favourite classes are ones where I can take more control. My political analysis class, for example -- my seminar is frustrating but also kind of awesome because we're separated into the same seating groups for critical assignments that lead to discussion, and my group just doesn't give a shit. They will sit there in silence until I do all the thinking and speaking, because a great deal of the time they haven't even done the readings. I'm the one who talks, who presents the results of our "discussion" to the other groups. It sounds frustrating as fuck, and it is, but it's also a lot easier in the long run because I know I'm right and don't have to actively defend that. As well, me carrying the group means I get all the seminar participation marks. :D
I don't have that feeling at all in my Russian class, or even in Canadian politics -- both are second year classes, and in both I'm constantly bull dozed by students
At least in those classes, I am given other avenues for marks. Russia requires a weekly list of questions to be handed in, and my Canadian politics TA recognises my situation and lets me come see her after the seminar for extra marks. (She's also incredibly hot. My Canadian politics TA. I don't understand how everyone in academia is so attractive!)
I am doing okay. The worst of it doesn't seem nearly as bad when I give myself a few minutes to relax and list things out. It's funny how easily I can discourage myself into thinking I'm doing poorly when I'm going to all my lectures, keeping up with my reading, and handing things in on time. :/