Madison's Academics

I study physics. It's a vibe.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

♦️♦️♦️♦️ Grading Lab Reports ♦️♦️♦️♦️

Grading lab reports is the most difficult and inconvenient part of being a TA for physics courses. It takes lots of energy and time, even if you're the fastest, most experienced grader in your cohort. I am fast, and I have strategies to make it less energy intensive.

Grade them as they're turned in. If you have a couple of students turn them in early, and you grade their reports immediately, you have less piled up later. It's much easier to grade a few at a time with no pressure to be fast than to grade all of them over a weekend.

Break the grading up over several days. Feeling forced to grade 50 lab reports in 48 hours is horrifying. I choose not to put myself in that situation.

Memorize the rubric. This one is self-explanatory.

Leave 2 sentence comments. Never ever write a paragraph about something the student lost a single point over. Paragraph comments are for students who are completely and utterly lost.

Focus timers. Focus, but you need to have a break in sight.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

The semester is ending.

I have made so much progress this semester, despite my grades not being awesome. It's incredibly hard to compete with mental health issues for the brainpower to understand. I'm winning, though.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Academic To-Do List

11/13/25

◇ Finish QM Homework 9

◇ Review CH 2 of QM textbook

◇ Review QM Notes from CH 2

Teaching To-Do List

□ Respond to student emails

□ Grade 5 lab reports

□ Fulfill all Thursday TA duties

Today's a busy one!

[oo0-madison-0oo]

I have been ill, but I'm still working pretty hard at home! I have an exam on Friday. I am WAY more prepared for it than I was for the last one in this class. Cat picture is included for encouragement!

Tomorrow's Itinerary:

Grade multiple choice for an exam.

TA prep for lab and discussion sections.

Go over the practice exam again.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Academic To-Do List

11/4/25

□ TA Prep for the week. 1h

□ Start QM HW7. 1h

□ Cl. M. Study for quiz 2. 3h

General Plan ☑️

● Morning classes. (9-11 am)

● 5 hours of work midday. (12-5 pm)

● Proctoring an exam. (5-7 pm)

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Someone might look over my shoulder at my homework and believe aliens exist, I fear.

A physics PhD will have you learning math nobody SHOULD EVER KNOW.

Contour integrals, residue, etc. It's all very odd.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

🌾🌾Making Progress🌾🌾

It has been a long few weeks. I was ill and in pain for a while, and my focus was poor. Now that I'm feeling better, I'm not incredibly behind! I'm actually still doing okay in my classes, and I feel that I can catch up if I have missed anything.

I'm having an okay time. Finances are stable.

Let's get moving. Flutter those wings. 🦋

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Home Office Setup

Today is becoming a home cleanup and preparation marathon!

Scrolling Facebook Marketplace for sustainable furniture (and deals, of course) has not been fruitful YET. I'm looking for the PERFECT office chair for the cloffice, a very tall shelf for the bedroom, and a little storage shelf for the cloffice.

It's going to be awesome when everything is done! I have a plan for every item in the house and all this freedom.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

There is a very odd vibe about the past few days. I feel so present. It's different for me to feel like I'm in my body experiencing my life firsthand. I'm not in a state of extreme stress or fight... or anything. My objective is to make it to August 20th with creative energy to spare, the future looks promising.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Fall is coming. Like... really soon. And I'll be sitting pretty when it comes.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

My last few weeks in Louisville were an emotional rollercoaster I wasn't expecting, but I did get a few moments to relax and recharge before I moved. Sitting in this forest helped me cope with the uncertainty of a big move.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

A New Chapter

I move in one week! This is what it's all about! I want to start posting more because I'll be back in school full time with more time freedom. I'm so thankful I have been given the opportunity to study again!

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Burnout Recovery

I spent a few weeks doing the bare minimum. I went to work. I took showers. I ate nutritious food. I thought about my life. My soul was allowed to remember that rest is the key to valuable work. I was allowed to come back to myself and evaluate my life with a clear mind.

I'm finally getting excited for the future again. That's extremely significant to me.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Commencement is in less than 48 hours.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

What is the bare minimum?

My therapist asked me to take some things off my plate and do the bare minimum this past week. I genuinely had to go home and figure out what the bare minimum actually is... or should be for me. I have decided on survival, hygiene, and health as my bare minimum needs. I'll wash myself. I'll eat well. I'll go to work. That's about all. I haven't really been religious to this, so I need to keep practicing doing the bare minimum. I'm so caught up in the expectations I have for myself.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

Taking a Long Break

This summer is going to serve as my full reset before I start with the new program. I have been taking gentle days to remember I'm a person, and I am starting to feel really well rested. I will admit that the burnout had claimed me this past academic year. I'm going to share my recovery here, as it is a huge part of the academic process.

What I've been doing:

1. Working part-time at a restaurant.

2. Avoiding any tasks above bare minimum.

3. Hobbies again!

4. General Chillaxing.

What I haven't been doing:

1. Studying.

2. Starting new projects.

3. Fussing over small messes.

4. Making huge plans or decisions.

[oo0-madison-0oo]

My car blew up, and I have taken a few days to mourn. I am interviewing at a job that is within walking distance today. Finals is next week, and a lot of things are due this week. I will hold it together like I always do.