My column tomorrow is called “Choose My Adventure.” It’s silly, it’s light-hearted, hopefully it’s clever. It was far too easy to write, mainly because I can think of so many ways my life could turn out. My column only had space for four choices:
- Go insane.
- Work for NASA.
- Get my Ph.D.
- Switch to journalism.
Of course I worded them with a bit more wit and elaboration. In any case, I think it’s a funny column. You can all read it tomorrow in the Daily.
I got my math midterm back today. That’ll teach me to blow off serious studying via the excuse “well I’ve had this class before.” I didn’t do nearly as well as I should have, and bemoaned the fact that I’m not smart enough to be in grad school. I’m not used to this kind of competition. Though I suppose that’s my problem in the first place — thinking of school as a contest. Grades don’t matter as much now as they did for undergrad. I should concentrate on really learning the material.
But bad grades still upset me.
This evening we had owl cookies at dinner, and everyone loved them, which made me really happy. I sat across from a guy who used to be business manager at Breakers and just happened to stop by to visit tonight. He graduated with an Aero/Astro Ph.D. in 1997, and coincidentally worked at NASA for four years in the late 80s. Hmm…does that echo anyone else’s life here? Wow. Anyway, it was really great to talk to him. The most helpful thing he said consisted of the three words: “It gets easier.” That was comforting.
(10:13 p.m.)
Today’s low? Being belittled by a good friend, then coming home only to be met with:
Hi Sarah,I wanted to discuss column topics with you. We liked your application for its humorous writing style, unique perspective as a first year graduate student, and mix of ideas. Your columns have been using these strengths very well, but we also want to urge you to consider writing about more general topics. Personal experience is vital for a column – but we want the personal experience to lead to some larger issue or theme about Stanford or the world. We want the columns to look outward at what’s happening in our community and world.
If you redirect your focus while still including personal experience and your clever writing style, we think the column will be stronger.
So I get it. After I just mentioned earlier how much I liked my column this week, I find out they DON’T like my columns. I use too much personal experience, I use too much of the word “I.” You know, I’m sorry if I don’t have opinions about the world. I’m sorry if I don’t know what’s going on at Stanford because I’m stuck under piles of homework. I’m sorry if I write much better when it’s a story related to me. I’m sorry if sometimes I write just in hopes of being entertaining, and not to make some life-altering point. Serious columns bore me, hence I don’t write them.
Geez. Every day it’s something different. I just want a normal life!
