Apartment et al…
So I have finally moved into my new apartment and LOVE it. That said, though, I’m beginning to have this suspicion that I am not going to get into a graduate school. I’m mostly worried about the various disadvantages I have as a student of UNT, whose Classics department is hardly comparable to those of other schools from which other Classical Archaeology applicants studied. Not only that, I don’t have Greek on my transcript, and started Latin relatively late. And then there is the GRE.
The GRE is such a waste of time, in that instead of studying Homer or reading up on the Bronze Age, I am re-learning how to do math problems and complete analogies. Really? My career is supposed to hang partly on my ability to take this wretched test? Studying for it has literally taken all of my attention away from those things that I truly love. That is not okay.
I truly believe I have something to offer Academia, but what if I am not given the chance to offer this?
Also, many people don’t understand the priority school has in my life. This isn’t directed at any one person, it’s just a statement. I value my education and my scholarly goals above everything else…everything else. People die, people pass out of your life, but the wisdom one attains in school is forever remaining with you. Granted, there are those few people who remain in your life through the ups and down, and they know who they are. Sure, wisdom can’t really provide the emotional support one needs, not to mention the intimate support provided by a significant other (now that’s a whole other post waiting to happen, but probably wont), but I get by…I guess :/ It would be nice to just go hang out with friends and not worry about the paper I have due, or applications, or the GRE, or what I eat, but that’s not me. I’m trying to balance things, but unfortunately, life doesn’t just stop to allow you to get things in order.
Example: Just because I turn down the opportunity to hang out with you because I have to study doesn’t mean I don’t like you. The truth is that I take the GRE next week, and I can only afford to take it once. Same goes for any academic goal. Life keeps going, and I have to make the most of it, which entails me reaching my goals, which will later allow me to live the life I want to live.
I’m not really sure where this all came from, but it’s been on my mind. I’m just sitting in my apartment listening to some violin solos on a CD I got when I visited the violin museum in Cremona, Italy. That, and talking with my new fish, Agamemnon. That’s right; his name is Agamemnon. Time to shower I guess; that, and study for the GRE some more.
Greek tomorrow morning :)
