Virtual Graduation: My 30 seconds of fame occur about 1:08:40. Congratulations to all my friends!
grad school
End of an Era
2005:
Started school, got a great job, felt like I’d finally figured it all out, took some library classes but was much more into the social informatics-type stuff and also my job my job my job. Went to France, dated some, felt pretty alone but also more like myself than ever before, applied to the doctoral program.
2006:
Started dating Shane, met a bunch of fantastic people, walked the Camino, lost weeks of my life to Moodle, started the doctoral program, got a for real job with the longest title ever, broke my arm, became a master of science!
2007:
Launched Moodle, left the doctoral program, walked at graduation, nationwide job hunt for both of us while working full time and taking three classes, moved to DC, started at the library, took a semester off.
2008:
Metadata, classes at GW, felt disconnected but actually able to do research at work, had an epiphany and put together a thesis project that addressed practical work and also my research interests, read and worked and collected data, hated job.
2009:
Last class, six weeks of frantic writing and revising, defense and Kams, and now….?
important information for everyone at uiuc
To: Faculty, Staff, Students
From: Robert D. Palinkas, M.D.
Director, McKinley Health Center
Subject: Handshaking at Commencement
Because of ongoing concerns about the possibility of spreading the flu virus, students receiving degrees and their families should not shake hands at Commencement if they have symptoms of an upper respiratory infection such as fever and cough.
McKinley Health Center will provide hand sanitizer on the platform at the Assembly Hall ceremonies so that graduates can, if they wish, use it before and/or after receiving their degrees. Members of the official platform party also are encouraged to use the hand sanitizer provided.
Everyone is encouraged to observe the other guidelines to reduce the risk of infection, such as covering coughs and sneezes; avoiding touching eyes, mouth and nose; and washing hands frequently.
Robert D. Palinkas, M.D.
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor
Subject: [Cas] Congratulations to Elizabeth Edwards
————— Forwarded message —————
From: Caroline Haythornthwaite
Date: Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Subject: [Cas] Congratulations to Elizabeth Edwards
To: cas, itsupport_staff, all_faculty, phd
Congratulations to Elizabeth Edwards on successfully completing and defending her CAS project, “Examining the Preparation for Reference-Based Instruction Among Academic Librarians”. Committee members were Caroline Haythornthwaite (chair), Linda Smith, and Melissa Wong.
Raise a glass of (green) beer!
/Caroline
Don’t try to dodge the recession with grad school | Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist
Don’t try to dodge the recession with grad school | Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist
Advice I wish someone had given me, oh, five years ago.
January project: the thesis!
One of my resolutions this year was to complete at least one craft project per month. I expanded that definition to be one CREATIVE project per month primarily for this month, when I went on a craft hiatus in order to write my first draft, which I turned in about 10 days ago. I would share pictures and stuff, but it’s really not all that interesting to look at.
February’s project, in addition to THESIS OMG PART TWO, is posting every day. This will be split between here, Outpost505, and various other less-public outlets. I tried to do this in November (I think) but failed. So if there’s anything you’d like to hear about, feel free to give me a blogging prompt.
Also, new project promises notwithstanding, I realized this weekend that I need to give myself permission to be bad at things for a little while until I finish my thesis. I need to do that, and I need to recognize it’ll be OK. It’ll be OK because in six weeks, this whole thing will be behind me! It’s kind of amazing to think about that.
I am a winner!
NaTheDraFo
I am officially declaring January 11-23 National Thesis Drafting Fortnight. Between today and next Friday, I need to write the (solid) first draft of my thesis. I estimate that I should write 5 double spaced or 2 1/2 single spaced or 1250 words per day. This is roughly consistent with – if not a little under – the average writing days for NaNoWriMo – except, you know, I get a grade at the end.
So guys, please keep me honest here. I need to get this shit done, and I’m pretty motivated – I’m just having a hard time getting started, and I’m awfully anxious about the end product. I have fun things planned for my birthday weekend, but I also need to get a whole lot done on this thing so that I can enjoy it (the weekend, not the thesis).
Stay tuned for word count updates and other procrastination devices – and most of all, wish me luck!
CAS update
I just finished what will probably be the most annoying and tedious (other than data transcription, but at least that has a certain rhythm to it) part of my CAS project. It took ~5 hours, but I’m done! On to the next tedious tasks – writing the IRB protocol, conducting the lit review, etc. And oh, the etc that lies ahead of me!
Resolution Check-In
With 6 months down and 6 months to go in 2008, it’s time for a resolution check-in:
1. Read two books for pleasure each month.
14 books so far, including one adorable childrens’ book that bizarrely made it to our New Bookshelf at work, so I’m actually ahead of schedule. And no, this doesn’t include any of my textbooks, finished or otherwise.
2. See 12 movies in the theatre.
So far we’ve seen There Will Be Blood, Atonement, Michael Clayton, Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skull, Iron Man, and WALL-E, so I guess I’m right on track here, too. WALL-E and Michael Clayton were the best, in very different ways.
3. Take a trip west of the Mississippi (and also west of Iowa).
Not yet, but we’ve confirmed that we’ll be spending Christmas in Carlsbad. Also, I’m presenting at conferences in Denver and Monterey. This one will definitely happen.
4. Go to Bonnaroo or Coachella.
Check!
5. Put $5,000 in savings by the end of the year (sub item: and leave it there).
No comment. Paying tuition has killed me this semester.
6. Finish Couch to 5K and run a 5K.
Check! I ran the Kelley Cares 5K in early June, and plan to run more in the fall. I’d like to do a 10K next year.
7. Continue weight training and do an unassisted pull up.
Less successful on this one. I took a lot of time off from lifting this spring due to shoulder and knee problems.
8. Finish my CAS.
I’m on target to defend my thesis in the fall, however I’m going to be one credit hour short of finishing unless I take another class. If that’s all that I have left at the end of the year, I’m fine with it.
9. Get published.
So far this year I have 3 accepted conference proposals (all co-written), 1 accepted (and award winning?) co-written virtual poster, and 3-4 conference and journal submissions outstanding. Not bad!
10. Find a church.
We’ve been sporadically attending services at Del Ray United Methodist Church, which we both really like. We found it when we went there with my family on Easter.
11. Reconsider therapy and/or medication.
I tried therapy with the GW staff counselor person, but I mainly found her annoying and “let’s fix it”-y. I did go back on medication, though, and it seems to be doing a lot to even me out. I go back this week for a six month evaluation.
12. Beat SB at Zooloretto or Alhambra.
I won at Zooloretto in January, but have been soundly defeated in almost every other game since then. Between Shane and our friend Kevin, I just don’t stand a chance.
13. Finish 2007’s Bond-watching resolution.
We’ve watched two Bond movies this week, and have now made it to the ill-fated George Lazenby era. 15 to go!
latterdaybohemian 