This is the last weekend before I start classes. Not sure why I keep thinking this is my last weekend considering that I received my syllabus and I have read just over half the articles I need to read for class. I’ve started, yet just not with that whole “OMG, I’m sitting in my PhD class!” moment.

Wednesday was orientation and it was fine. Our director of graduate studies spent a good amount of time telling us that sooner or later us part-timers (I think there are 3-4 of us) will need to devote our full time lives to this PhD. She said that others who have gone through the program full time quit working for a year (except for having a graduate assistantship) or took a leave of absence. These moments occurred either when it was time to write (I know a woman who did this) or in preparation for prelims.

This made me happy to think that we’re going to be finished paying off the car come October. And we’re going to put all that “extra” money into savings. Will it save until I need to take 3 months off? Maybe it’s time to start hording vacation days too. But I can see why one would want to take some time off to prep for the biggest tests ever in my academic life. Maybe I’ll put a ChipIn button here so y’all can help me save for me staying home to write my thesis. We’ll see, eh?

Well back to homework.