Time Is Not on My Side

I’m sure you’re noticing that my posts are getting shorter and shorter. That’s because I feel like my days are getting shorter and shorter! I remember a time when there used to be 24 hours in a day. Now I don’t even notice the hours, I just count the weeks. And it seems like last week was week one. And now it’s week five! Or six, I’m not really sure.

It’s…well, almost Monday morning already and I’m still working. The next couple of weeks are going to be super busy. I just finished with mid-terms and now finals are almost here. And group projects! Next week, I have 2 finals and a presentation on the same day. Lucky me!

I know I seem to complain a lot ☺, but I’m also grateful. The workload is huge, not having enough sleep is frustrating, but you know what? When else do I have time to do something for myself? I’m feeling lucky I don’t have to work (especially with the current job market) and I can focus on studying (as lame as that sounds). Because I know that once I finish school, I’m going to be out in the real world again, and I will probably barely have time to do anything for myself. Yeah, grad school is crazy, busy, competitive, and leaves you with no energy, but it is still a controlled and nurturing environment. And I’m planning on taking advantage of that for the next year and two months. Then, back to real life!!! For now, I still have to send a few e-mails and then (hopefully) catch five hours of sleep. Good night!

Work, More Work, and a Little Bit of Play

Papers, mid-terms, group meetings, school events. This is what week four looks like in the life of a grad student. Actually, this is what every week in grad school looks like, minus the mid-terms. Before I started school, people told me that grad school is a full-time job. Now, I would tell those people that grad school is actually like working two full-time jobs, with one exception: you can probably leave your work at the office with most jobs. In grad school you’re not able to do that!

And I’m not saying this just to scare you. It’s just the reality of the situation. It’s not undergrad, so you don’t have four years to complete your degree. Plus if you want to take advantage of all the opportunities that school offers then you need time to get involved. Pepperdine definitely offers a lot of opportunities. It’s up to you if you want to take advantage of them. From the various student clubs and business competitions, to student mixers and yoga, you get a chance to do everything. So relax, you’ll work really hard, but you also get to play. ☺

A Day in the Life

Today I woke up feeling restless, so I decided to do a change of scenery, and study on the terrace at Pepperdine instead of the library or home. I figured the beautiful view was going to make it easier. ☺ Well, my plan worked for about 10 minutes. Not that I didn’t like the view – it is great, that’s why Pepperdine was voted the most beautiful campus in the country – it’s just that it gets too hot!!! So now I’m back in the library.

I survived the first three weeks of school. So far, it’s been an amazing experience. I met tons of smart, interesting people, and I even feel that I’ve learned a lot in class. It is tough for me going from a work schedule, where I could leave my work in the office, to a school schedule, where I have hundreds of pages to read, group meetings, and homework. It is a lot! Take Monday for example, I started my day at 8:00 a.m. and finished at 10 p.m. I had class from 8:00 – 12:00, studied at the library from 12:30 – 5:00. At 5:15 we had a meeting, I got home at 7:00, showered and quickly ate, and then at 8:00, I met with another group to do our accounting homework. When we finished at 10 p.m. my brain was screaming for a break. I went to bed and the next morning I was ready to do it all over again.

It’s really important to try to get some balance while you’re studying. I’m working hard on that! For now, my plan is to be on campus Monday - Friday until 5 p.m. (or later), whether I have classes or not, and then to take Saturday off. This – if it works – will allow me to get my schoolwork done and have a day off on the weekend to spend it with family and friends. I’m pretty sure that if I manage to do this, I’m not only going to survive b-school, but also enjoy it. ☺ For now, let’s see if I survive next week: mid-terms week! Whoo hoo!

Overdressed and Underprepared

My husband and I went to see John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl last weekend. We have been in L.A. for two years, and we have never been to the Hollywood Bowl. So, I just assumed it was a high-class, fancy event and we dressed accordingly. We drove to Sherman Oaks and took the shuttle. On the bus, one of the ladies asked me if we brought food. I said ‘no’, but I found the question a little bit odd. It was not until we got there, that I realized what she was talking about.

People were wearing jeans, T-shirts, flip-flops, and carrying huge baskets of food. I was thinking “What? You cannot bring food into a movie theater, but you can do that at the Hollywood Bowl!” Well folks, that is the culture at the Bowl. People get there long before the show, they bring food, wine, snacks and have a picnic before the show. Or, you can buy your food right there. Or, if your wallet is giving, you can buy the seats with a table and have your own server.

Getting to the Bowl and watching the people before the show was a cultural experience in itself. Now, the show… well, the show was amazing. Indiana Jones, E.T., Star Wars…we heard and enjoyed his most famous soundtracks (except for Schindler’s List, which I personally think is his best work). When the orchestra started playing Star Wars, about 100 people pulled out their lightsabers to join Williams in conducting. Then, the special guest, Stanley Donen took us for a ride into the past and talked about Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and the technical and political challenges he faced at the time. Donen is a very gifted storyteller that proved he can still dance at his age. The entire experience was definitely a treat that made us appreciate the present a little bit more and somewhat envy the past. It also taught us a lesson: next time bring food and wear jeans!