Starting in March, besides my PhD, during the week I will also be teaching a 2nd year Psychology course, and also helping out and lecturing a bit for a Masters night course. I also applied (and got accepted) to do a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education at uni. Also, I put my hand up to be Postgrad Rep (a person who liases between the students and faculty to highlight relevant issues etc.) this year. Perhaps you may be thinking:
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| Go crazy? Don't mind if I do! [via] |
"Lozzz123 - are you going CRAZY!?"
To which I say - yeh, probably. However, the course is free for university staff, and it's actually only 4 hours of class every fortnight. It's a great opportunity to learn how to be a good lecturer/course coordinator before I actually may get a full time job doing that (it's interesting that this is not compulsory and although pre-school, primary school and high school teachers all need specific degrees in teaching, most university level teachers don't have any teacher training except perhaps a 1-2 day course, but that's a completely different issue)! As for the Postgrad Rep, I'll be sharing the responsibility with another PhD student too, and besides a meeting or two each week and emailing/talking to any students that have questions it shouldn't be super time consuming. And well, all the teaching/helping/lecturing is good money.
Considering I'll be trying to fit testing for two experiments and trying to write up my thesis in there too (and well, having a bit of a life possibly) it will make for a busy and slightly stressful year.
The thing is though, I actually seem to function better when I have so much stuff to do, that I don't have a choice but to do it NOW. As mentioned previously, when I only have one thing to work on without any immediate looming deadlines, I seem to flounder, get bored easily, and just generally procrastinate and not do much at all (unless you count non-uni activities like cooking and running, which I don't).
I just hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew this time...!
I know what you mean about how being busy keeps you, well, "efficient." Good luck with it all and I'm sure you'll be fine!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same - the more I have to do, the more efficient I am. So basically, unemployment has been kicking my arse because I get all "Well, I should probably work on that job application now. Oooooooh, PINTEREST!!!"
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it all! :)
Good luck. Hopefully this isn't a case like "your eyes are bigger than your stomach" - get what I mean? You keep thinking "yeah, I can handle this" because right now you're bored and would take on anything additional, but when it all starts up and everything is pulling you everywhere you end up spreading yourself really thin like vegemite on toast. BUT I'm sure this won't be the case and you'll be awesome.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great opportunity! :)
ReplyDeleteI just got an interview offer for a graduate program, and want to use it to work in higher ed - I'm super excited. :D
Don't worry, crazy people make the world a more interesting place :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd, subconsciously, you know that you can totally do this.. or else you wouldn't have volunteered, applied or raised your hand. You've got this. Seriously. And we're going to root for you all the way.
Team Lozzz!!
Good luck! You can do it :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!
ReplyDeleteDitto on the "more stuff to do is better for me" thing. I just devolve into a puddle of laziness when I have nothing to do. I cannot self-motivate with nothing immediately present.
ReplyDeleteI'll be crossing my fingers and toes for you. Best of luck with it all. I almost published this comment with "best of lick" written. Ha. That too.
Lor
Wow - I think a lot of people function like that, the more on their plate the more they get done.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Your schedule is reminiscent of mine, but much more difficult. I'm hoping to become involved on our university forum, which sounds much like being a Postgrad Rep. Your uni offers more exciting opportunities, however. I would love to get into Higher Education, but outside of practical experiences my university doesn't offer any degrees or certificates. I took a class on Higher Ed last spring, but that's all they offer.
ReplyDeleteTeaching a class is difficult. You have a lot of obligations piling up, and no doubt it will be very stressful. But you'll get through, and think of how awesome your resume will be!
~Shane