sophs's studying

This semester, I'll stop aiming for perfection and go for quantity over quality instead. I'm starting my master's. I'm working for professors I desperately want to impress. I've signed up for both classical and jazz music groups, gym classes, a volunteer initiative and a programming contest (that I have no chance of winning even if I had quadruple the time to prepare). Worst of all, I'm signing up for driving lessons again. Everything is terrifying, and failure is inevitable.

At least I'll have an unhinged record of all the questionable decisions I made on the way to madness.

Around this time last year, I was in a place (physically and mentally) much like this one. Away from home, unable to rest, haunted by the academic year's failures, and yearning to return and find purchase in my routines. Wondering if I prepare more, set more modest expectations, or make my dreams more realistic, I'll finally be satisfied with my efforts.

Google docs core. Let the group project fest begin! So much writing and rewriting today. I do like these less technical aspects of my uni work, but I'm struggling daily to work with a minimum of harmony with my colleagues.

I lucked out this semester with my groups, actually! I'll be kept very accountable, but I also don't want to be a pain. Hope I get more used to the constant back and forth of feedback soon.

First hand reveal, kind of nervous 🙈 Photo is courtesy of my lab partner.

💼 6:14 ~ these times are weirdly consistent

☁️ lab assignment in C

💼 6:14

☁️ some C and python, almost doesn't count

Had another good work day. It was hard to get out of bed in the morning, but I managed to do something productive after lunch. It's honestly degrading to have 8am classes as a night owl...

I finished Jane Eyre (10/10 such a good book). It's the kind of story that I love to read, to write, to inhale, etc. Can't wait to come back to the Brontë sisters, but this week I'm focusing my reading on programming-related shenanigans.

Didn't get to workout because I spent the evening with my friends. As is to be expected, worth it. However, I'm not looking forward to getting out of bed tomorrow either.

💼 6:11

☁️ none of my work was code today, unfortunately

🐎 rest day

I pulled through for myself today. Went to class, therapy, the gym and snuck in some more work before bed.

I think I'm coming to the sad conclusion that life goes better when I don't drink coffee... The energy crash lately has been no joke. Let me make it clear that this leaves me devastated...

💼 4:01

☁️ more codeforces problems... many segmentation errors...

🐎 gym workout!

A looong day as expected. Had my first orchestra rehearsal of the season and it was—again, as expected—a blood bath.

On the other hand, had some productive class time in the morning and made some more acquaintances within the library staff. Always a good advantage!

💼 4:35 ~ not a bad start

☁️ haskell exercises

🐎 rest day (obligatory)

☁️ rest day

🐎 dance workout

☁️ continued my codeforces contest

🐎 went on a walk

We were finally assigned to our classes and I'm so relieved it went well and I won't be scrambling too much to find someone to do group projects with.

💼 1:11

☁️ no coding 🙈

🐎 rest day!

Had to take a long videogames and netflix break today, but was still able to kick back and do some exercise and programming before the end of the day—with a little bit of caffeine 👀

Spent some more quality time with my friends, and it made for a great evening—let's see if 7am me is that happy about it 🙈

💼 2:55 ~ it's going to be a low average week

☁️ haskell class!

🐎 rest day (deserved)

-*- 007/100 -*-

Had a loooong day! Some studying, some exercising, a bit of headbanging :) Keeping it short today because my brain is rapidly reaching soup state.

💼 3:33 ~ not on purpose

☁️ another leetcode problem 👀

🐎 pilates and cardio class

First day of classes! Group projects are starting right off the bat and are already giving me headaches. Spent a nice afternoon at the library with my friends, played some cards at the end of the day, crossed everything off my to-do list. Starting strong :) and going to sleep early!

💼 3:40 ~ not at 40hrs a week rythm yet, but I think that's ok for now

☁️ solved a leetcode problem

🐎 did a dance workout to start off the week

Had a great day trip with my family to officially end summer break. I'm back to classes tomorrow at 10 :) Already feeling the jitters... how soon is too soon to start working?

I plan to not let all my self-care work go to waste now that the semester is starting. I've already scheduled some exercise into my week, and I'm excited to spend time with my friends again. (Unfortunately, I finished Beyond the Bar :( I have big feelings about it.)

Happy Fall 2025!