This is week 6 of the 12week semester. I have turned in papers for 2 classes, and almost done with final argument for the IIP class. 4 more sessions left.
This has so far been a great blessing and experience intellectually and emotionally. Emotionally because it keeps my mind off of negative depressing thoughts.
The greatest challenge in this program has been Reading. I am a slow reader. I started reading full words as early as 2 years of age. But somewhere I became a word reader. My mind loses concentration on the meaning of a sentence and I just try hard to focus and begin to read words alone. This has helped me improve my note-taking. The amount of intense sheer readings per class takes up a lot of time.
There was no way I could have taken a fulltime load with a regular life and a regular full time job. I like to be in a frame of mind when I study. I am learning how to improve my reading and concentration and how to keep both in synch over long periods of time. I underestimate time. Suddenly I need breaks every hour.
Some days its hard to get in the mood to study. Sometimes I want to think about other things, other subjects of interest. Sometimes I am completely unmotivated to make the efforts to begin study and lose interest. But I push myself because I have no good excuse to not to do so. What keeps me going is the confidence that I am smart enough to do it, that I have the opportunity to pursue this , and that time will pass anyways and if I keep doing what I'm doing I will one day have successfully completed the program and achieved an LLM. One year already passed since mamma, another year will pass quickly too. This program is 24weeks long with 2midterm break weeks. 6weeks have already passed. I'm 1/4th across this journey, and planning to apply for the next PhD lap 2014.
