surviving wednesdays (aka a day in a life of a journalist/graduate student)
My tweets and posts will prove that juggling my career and education is an adventure, but admittedly, it gets toxic at times. Graduate school means having to read long essays (at least eight pages each), writing thought papers that are based on studies and concrete examples and active participation in class. The last bit I find easier since most examples are based on current events which I do most of the time anyway.
I attend classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays but the former somehow is more tiresome than the latter. Allow me to give you a peek of how I spend my Wednesdays
5:30 AM - phone alarms, time to get up.
- check my emails, read most of them (at least those that seem important) PS: I usually don't reply as my judgment is impaired and I might still be half-awake
- check Twitter, and it's interesting that what I usually get are global stories. Accounts from different timezones usually update more frequently at this hour.
6:00 AM - open my laptop, do work.
7:00 AM - still at work but in between copies and headlines, sips coffee and eats breakfast
- now's also the ideal time to answer emails, I AM AWAKE.
8:00 AM - i take a bath and prep for work
9:00 AM - just before i leave, check on things at work
10:00 AM - i usually arrive in the office around this time, depending on the traffic of course.
and work is until around 3:00 PM. in between those hours is a rather complicated task of being creative and technical at the same time for one task. but for the love of movies, it is so much worth it.
3:00 PM - leave the office for school.
- while on my way, i read the required essays and try to take notes as much as possible. i barely retain anything if i read from the night before and it's best to read in the mornings but i can't since i have work.
5:00 to 8:00 PM - classes ongoing. time to think.
- also a good opportunity to evaluate the things that I've done for the day
8:00 PM - head home
9:00 PM - home!
- time to catch on television and movies.
- if i have enough energy, i turn the computer on to read until i fall asleep.
this may seem simple. but as far as i could remember, i get more tired when im doing "mind" work rather than physical activities. i feel more exhausted reading a book than running a simple 3k. oh well, were all built differently.
i am not in anyway complaining and actually enjoying the opportunity to be in a position where while i am doing my craft, theories in the academe remind of what's ideal and at times, what's noble.
in the end, surviving wednesdays is fun not because it gives a sense of relief but maybe because this is when i find myself most productive.
and if can i get past wednesdays triumphantly, then i can make it any other day.
The Graduate School
After a long wait, I'm finally back to where I first fell home, the classroom. For some reason, whether I'm seated in the front or back row, I felt so comfortable I could sit in a class for five hours straight.
Being in the academe gives me a new perspective and luckily, both my instructors appreciate the greater role of technology in the media today. I appreciate how books and theories and concepts give meaning to what I do everyday, all day.
I was surprised most of my classmates are my age. They're either working, on freelance jobs, or taking their time off for reasons of their own. The best thing? Most of them realize that four years in college weren't enough.
I love how I learn from their perspectives, especially the people in Advertising and Public Relations. See, when you're on the other side, and the PR people feed you with press releases, an initial instinct is too look for a "weakness" or "butas." That way, you see the whole picture and the story won't be like you're endorsing the product. And journalists are hardly always happy with what they get. Even after the interviews, they dig for other leads.
And hearing from the other side is, I must say, refreshing. As they say, "trabaho lang."
I thought graduate studies meant tons of papers. But as of today, I have only written two papers, about my dream Philippines and the ascendancy of the President. A podcast is due in two weeks though.
Overall, I'm still trying to adjust (especially the traveling part) but admittedly, I feel that I'm about to have the time of my life.
Hello SCHOOL
After days of planning, weeks of paperwork, months of research and years of waiting, I'm finally going back to school.
Heard the good news this morning, just after I finish morning routines and before I left for work.
All I could remember was this line, "Yes, you've been accepted."
Then I don't know whether the words that came out of my mouth actually made sense. I think not.
Right after college, my plan is to plan for graduate school. While most people rejoiced at the fact that they're finally leaving the school atmosphere, I wasn't. But then, a lot of things happened. A job that demands a lot of time, a program that was offered and then suddenly not, and many other random things that will pass as an 'excuse' to postpone the original plan.
Then one morning, I decided to do the research and see my options.
Next thing I know, I'm asking people for recommendations and I'm looking for my college transcript.
And there I go.
This is probably the best advanced birthday gift ever.
By the way, enrollment day falls on my birthday.
Hello school.
