(no subject)

So yesterday I found out that last quarter another one of the grad students in my department had a nervous breakdown while trying to complete her quals. It makes me sad and worried. She was an outgoing, sparkly woman who seemed to have her research in order and a good knowledge base. I'm shocked that she was having such a hard time, though the exam that she was struggling with was being given by one of the profs in my department who has a reputation for giving unreasonable workload and unreasonably high expectations. I am sad for my colleague and hope that she feels better soon and can follow whatever path she is supposed to take in her career.

I am also steeling myself for my own quals. People in my department seem to have 2 different kinds of malfunction when quals come around. There are a few who have slid into inertia and never seem to get anything accomplished month after month and there are those who push and push and get negative feedback and then just lose it. I am determined not to have either. I am going to try and be as good to myself as possible during this period because yesterday's news really drove the gravity of the situation home to me. I will not stop doing yoga even if I think I don't have time, I will ask for help if I need it, and if I need therapy to get through this I will get it - before I feel myself losing it.

(no subject)

I love my sparkly purple velvet Uzbek tea cozy! I made a pot of green tea at 10 AM and forgot about it, did laundry, came back, ate lunch and just poored myself a cup - it was still steaming!