#post grad problems

i grew up always being brick's exact age; whatever season was airing, we were in the same grade! and now i've graduated college and when i rewatch this comfort blanket of a show, i'm seeing axl worry about the anxiety garbage pile that is the job search. finding that job and being good at it...if it'll happen for you. and i'm seeing frankie tell him the life advice and wisdom i need to hear right now. i love a show that grows with you.

04 July 2024 | few more weeks left before this term ends yet I’m still here saying that this is exhausting (when I wasn’t even studying the past few weeks and just heavily relying on my luck).

16/03/25

I’ve been poor at maintaining this blog alongside studying but I am getting back into the groove of it slowly. Rather than dwell on the bad, I have been focusing on the good.

I have been volunteering consistently since last summer in a second hand bookstore. I spend 4hours every week organizing, cleaning, facing, and selling books. For me it has been a fulfilling experience for me, as a regular weekly outing that leaves me feeling better after it. I’m able to help our local library through selling the books for funding, helping the older ladies who run it, and helping customers find books.

Through this, I have realized just how important books are in the community. I’ve been an avid reader for years, however, I never really thought about how essential books are. A majority of the patrons are the elderly in need of a story. Many retired and sometimes living alone, come and stock up on piles of books to keep them busy. For the younger generations, we keep ourselves busy thumbing away on our devices, while the older generation is more restricted to more physical means such as books and even puzzles if their eyes allow it. Men and woman alike file into the cramped cozy store with their coins to purchase a $0.25-0.50 book. I’ve helped countless store patrons scour the shelves for an author they loved, a book recommendation from a grandkid, or just listen to them explain their love for a series. The stacks of books people get through weekly showcase how essential books are for entertainment and wellbeing.

Through this experience I have been able to connect with so many in the community weekly and even build my book collection up. I have also helped collect duplicate books to build and deliver boxes to the local nursing homes to expand their personal libraries and prevent overstock from becoming trash. To help our local migrant school, I’m able to search through the shelves for diverse children’s books for the students and their teacher’s which I donate myself to help the store. While a small store that reels in not a lot of profit, it is such an important part of the community through offering affordable entertainment for the community, aiding the local library, and offering the elderly another third space to chat with others and nab some cool books.

So, I'm back from the talk I was meant to give out-of-town. It went very well! And it's definitely been a great weight taken off my shoulders. I can focus more on actual dissertation-writing and teaching.

But, I still have on my mind how uncomfortable I still feel when TAing. I've had some experience, but I honestly still feel tense beforehand.

Of course, every course is different and even within a course, every discussion section will be different. But I was wondering if anyone else in studyblr/phdblr/academia tumblr has any key advice they always follow? How do you feel more confident teaching? And what are some good go-to activities to do with students?

In addition to prepping for this week's teaching, my plan today is

Do laundry

Buy groceries

Check emails

may 2024

it’s been a while, but happy to say that i’ve graduated college! it was a long and arduous road, but finally made it lol. here are some pics from around the time i graduated in early may!

As someone who graduated w/ a humanities degree I want to let fellow humanities people know that

you’re not a failure for not having your dream job straight out of college/university

if it takes a long ass time for you to get that job, it’s normal

some of these people will say very unhelpful, un-uplifting things and you gotta ignore them