Summer To-Do List: Learn French

Photo Source: indulgy (wish I could find the real source of these pictures...)

Whoa, hang on a second... Don't get any ideas that I'm going to somehow come out of this summer speaking French or even understanding spoken French. No, that won't happen. I won't be able to think in French or compose sentences in French. The most I'll be able to do is point at something, maybe not even an *object* thing, more like a *pronoun* thing or an *idea* thing, and say what that is in French. Probably pronounced wrong and with the wrong gender article and the wrong ending. But, hey! I'm learning French! Correction: I'm learning to *read* French!

This summer I'm taking a graduate reading course for French, which basically trains us to be able to read (with the aid of a dictionary) scholarly works within our discipline in another language. The Ph.D. program I'm in requires us to demonstrate reading competency in one modern foreign language and competency in another related discipline (either another language or something related to our emphasis - I chose and already passed the requirement for Latin language). So, I chose French. It's pretty practical as far as academia goes, and it's a Romance language, so I figured I'd have an easier transition to it than to German. Plus (in general) it's so much more exciting to say that you're studying French rather than German.

Summer Goal #2: Pass my French reading exam.

Finals Week

Completed: Classes, 1 Paper, 1 Presentation

Remaining: 2 Papers

See you on the other side! :)

Grad School - Why I'm Here

At first I was planning on posting the personal statement that I wrote to get into graduate school. After reviewing it, though, I decided that this is all you get to see:

Science does not stand alone in the world as an impartial, indifferent, autonomous field of study. It is affected by the fact that science is driven by the passions of men and women who are humans before they are scientists. The knowledge, theories and machines that come out of science are, after all, the products of minds which were first captivated by something elegant, beautiful or true. Sadly, the scientific disciplines have largely lost sight of this, gradually aiding in the dehumanization of modern society.* This was neither an inevitable nor a necessary development. ... For the most part, science is tacked onto a liberal arts education as a necessity for functioning in a technological society, rather than integrated with the humanities as an important component of being a free, contemplative human being. ...**

The ellipses mark a lot of content that you don't get to see. But now maybe you can get an idea of why I chose to study the history of science. I had a vision of being some sort of advocate between the disciplines, showing liberal arts students how they can integrate science and the humanities. One of the questions I'm mulling over, now that I'm about 3/4 of the way through my first year - was my goal a realistic expectation of what grad school would prepare me for?

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* This is a controversial statement that I'm not going to defend here right now. It has to be admitted, though, that science, just like anything else, has had major negative consequences despite all the good it does for humanity.
** Obviously the lines between the disciplines aren't as black and white as I've painted them. I may have sensationalized the differences a bit. In this day and age there is a lot of interdisciplinary work going on.

Note to tomorrow's self

When those super annoying writers and teachers encourage you to write fifteen minutes a day - listen!

It seems really silly, I know... "I don't have enough research done! I don't want to! I really should write for more than that!"

Just do it. Why? Tomorrow you'll have a better idea of where you're going with this paper. Tomorrow you won't feel guilty that you got nothing written the day before. Sure, you may throw it all out tomorrow. But you'll have the power to throw something out, instead of the fear of having nothing at all!

So do it. Write fifteen minutes today. And tomorrow. And the next. It works. Really.

(I know because I just did.)

"Pull yourself together!"

^ I know that's a generic phrase, but I have a specific movie reference in mind that I can't recall right now. Anyways...

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I just hit one of those nasty patches of grad school - "just" as in about half-an-hour ago. I've let my procrastination of writing go a little too long for comfort. I've failed to meet self-made deadlines (those are the worst for me because then I feel guilty when I don't really have to). I spent hours today reading a scholarly book about stuff that I never wanted to learn about (you'll just have to take my word for it that you never wanted to learn about it either). I'm in a general "blah..." mood when it comes to academia.

Tomorrow's Tuesday, though. That paper still needs to be written. I have to finish reading that book, no matter how unpleasant it is. Grad school is my job and like everyone else I will have to get up and (figuratively go to) work tomorrow.

There needs to be some balance between coddling myself by trying to stir up internal motivation with warm, fuzzy feelings and (figuratively) slapping myself and saying "pull yourself together!" The best solution I have now is pray about it, sleep, and try again tomorrow.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."
(Lam. 3:22-24, ESV)

Also especially important for me to understand:

It is good for a man that he bear
the yoke in his youth.
(Lam. 3:27, ESV)

"Carry On"

Two things:

1. I had a great spring break, 

and

2. I love, love, love this phrase...

Actually, make that three things:

3. I need to visit that bookstore one day :)