#postgradlife

[poetrybymalimarks]

Here’s a Post-Grad Poem😚

[caffeinatedbookpages]

4 February 2021

Took a break from the hectic schedule. Had coffee from ICH (Indian Coffee House), I love black coffee and cutlet from there. Then I bought some books from Crossword and then some secondhand books. Caught with a friend after months. I'm soo happy. This break was much needed.

Now I'm back to my hectic schedule with assignments and classes. It's just the fourth day of third and final term and my schedule is already filled with deadlines.

[literachures]

studyblr introduction  🌻

hi! i realized i haven’t posted my introduction post before, so here goes:

about me:

- i’m da, infj, virgo - i’m from the philippines - hufflepuff!!!

academics:

- im pursuing my master’s degree in english studies. im majoring in language

- for undergrad, i took up bachelor in secondary education major in english

- i taught english/literature in junior high school (jhs) and senior high school (shs) for two years  

- i want to teach esl/efl abroad

- my research interests: philippine literature, discourse analysis, stylistics, feminist stylistics, english language teaching, philippine mythology

- currently studying korean!!! 

likes/interests:

- languages - fanfics (im a frustrated writer lol) - coffee and tea/ - books!!!! - kpop (im an exo-l, ksoo stan!!! YAS LETS GO KSOO WORLD DOMINATION 2021) - aside from exo, im also a fan of lee hi, akmu, sam kim, crush, DAY6 - stationery, journals - anime, kdrama - tv series (house md, game of thrones, narcos, mad fat diary, mindhunter, sex education) - interested in crime fiction/crime drama - greek mythology - feminism

about this blog:

- im all for learning, but at times, studying makes me anxious and i go into this cycle of procrastination and self-loathing (i was told that im such a perfectionist and im overly critical of myself kjasdjkd). i want to develop healthy study habits and develop discipline in studying. - i often check this studyblr when i want to be motivated (im so close to finishing my masters, im supposed to write my thesis proposal now lol) - i mostly post pics of my study sessions at home and at uni (i love libraries a lot)

other things:

- feel free to message me (esp. if you’re a gradblr)!!! i dont have friends here!!!! :c

- i still dont know how things work here in the studyblr community tbh pls forgive me 

blogs that inspire me: @cupsandthoughts @galina @seoulightstudies @studyingfilms @studylustre @the-literaryowl @phdiaries @archystudy @stillstudies @fivestarstudying @lawyerd @headgirlstudy @delphicoracle @jinjii-kikko @theclassicsreader @vocative please reblog/like if you’re a studyblr and let’s be friends (and cry over academia)!!!!! 

[justhereforthemonet]

Calling All English Lit Grad Students and Professors: Advice Wanted

TL;DR: I’m thinking of ditching my job and going to grad school/trying to become a professor and would love some general advice on the process (especially from US citizens going to grad school in the UK/Europe)!

For context: I graduated from college in 2018 with a degree in English Lit and a minor in Film and Media Studies that’s launched me into a career in marketing and social media. I have found that career path unfulfilling and on many days rather soul sucking.

I have always wanted writing to be a big part of my work, but still haven’t nailed down a specific path I wanted to take. Screenwriting and novel writing have been the main avenues that have appealed to me, but I haven’t made any large strides in either. Recognizing that big strides in either of those careers takes time, I feel like the marketing day job is slowly killing my creativity and my academic ability, making it harder and harder to pursue those passions on the side.

I miss being in an academic setting where I am challenged, inspired, and working on things that I find genuinely worthwhile. My time in the corporate world has me considering going back to school and maybe even pursuing a career in academia. I’m nervous to take that path for a few different reasons and would love some insight from this community, on top of my own personal research, as I think about this career switch!

As I said, I feel as though my creativity and academic ability have been negatively impacted by my years out of school which has me questioning if I’d be able to keep up in (or even be accepted into) a competitive program. I’m also not sure which lane I’d like to work in most. Classics? Romantics? Victorian Era? Modern? Comparative Lit? Creative Writing? Taught vs. Research programs? It all intrigues me and I didn’t really have a specialization in college. Is there anything specific you would recommend doing to brush up on skills? Particular online courses or exercises to do? Tricks to figure out which area of literature you are most passionate about? 

I’ve also heard a lot of people who are pursuing careers as professors are struggling to find work, especially that pays well enough to live on. My current work is fairly stable and well paying, which I’m undeniably grateful for, especially now, even if it is unfulfilling. Any advice or insight into what it’s really like out there looking for work as a professor, especially in English, or even what day to day life is like as a professor would be helpful! Of course I have this idealized version of the work in my mind, but I’d like to know more about the reality of it before uprooting my life.

I’ve had my eye on University of Edinburgh as my top choice should I decide to go back to school, so any insight into their program would be great! I’m also very open to hearing about other grad programs, especially in the UK/Europe. I’m working on saving up for the whole process, but financial insights other than tuition costs would also be fantastic. General cost of living, what it’s like trying to work on a visa while studying, all that kind of information would be helpful.

If you got this far, thanks for reading!! And thanks in advance for any information and advice you can provide. I’m open to discussing on this post or in DMs, whichever works for you. Also, if you don’t have any particular advice, but can relate to any of this and want to chat, hmu ❤️️

[emilypenserfranglais]

Me: Wants to talk to this guy from my class because he’s cute and it seems like we have things in common.

*Actually happens*

My anxiety and OCD:

[ariesthevirgin]

Acceptance

I need to stop forcing myself to be something I am not. Today marks the first day where I am not in COMPLETE denial. I am okay with acknowledging that I may not be as good in International Relations as I hoped to be. Now that I think about it, “being good” isn’t even the problem. The problem is that I do not hope to pursue a career in International Relations, a degree I worked five years on in hopes of landing me my “dream job”. Actually, after spending so much of my early twenties forcing myself to become an expert in International Relations, I’m struggling to find my true identity. My life has been riddled with the aesthetics of my education as opposed to chasing what my honest heart truly desired. Now that I’ve accepted this fact about myself, I hope my journey to self-determination becomes easier. It explains why papers and in-class discussions never came easy to me. I worked my ass off to achieve good grades, but in the grand scheme of things, it was just for grades - it did not really benefit me in any other way (other than maybe having an edge in political discussions... or trivia). My interests for International Relations partially stems from the hope to be viewed as an intellect. To prove to everyone (family, friends, coworkers) that I could accomplish a university degree in a complex subject where I was somewhat interested into the topics. But is there passion? Is there a drive to throw myself into the depths of international politics, economics and history? On my free time, I do not delve into current events and listen in on world news podcasts. I confess, I am currently working as a sales associate for a fashion brand that I’ve admired since I was young and I am ACTUALLY enjoying what I do. It’s the first time I’ve felt that my skills truly matched a profession and even though I cannot fully accept this minimum wage job as a university grad, it makes me happy. Yes, I don’t want to work in retail forever but it’s the first step into a different direction (slightly more creative that political science perhaps). I need to tell myself that IT’S OKAY. I work with high school graduates and IT’S OKAY. I don’t earn as much as my friends who have full-time positions in laboratories, hospitals, and companies and IT’S OKAY. I have days where I feel incompetent and a failure and IT’S OKAY. You know why it’s okay? Because I know that this isn’t forever and there’s something greater for me. I want to believe in myself and to persevere in order to achieve a goal - it’s been awhile since I’ve had a sense of purpose. But it’s okay to be lost as long as you keep looking. My happiness derives from positive social interactions and my ability to create meaningful relationships with different types of people. I hope to take myself abroad and to gain experience through new opportunities. Maybe that’s why I chose International Relations. I needed context for the places I hope to visit/live. I want to be educated on topics such as colonialism, economic relations, and sociology so I am not ignorant towards foreign cultures and people. My degree was not an error, it was a stepping stone for what I want to do next. I realized that it is okay to change direction (however to actually change that direction is another story...). It is okay to admit that others are better than you. It is okay to not stay in academia. It is okay to be the least academic in your group. My abilities are unique and it makes me different, not worse-off. The post-grad depression hit me hard a few months ago, still is if I’m being honest. But I want that to change. And I can be the only one to change my life story. I can no longer base my success on how I do in relative to those around me. They do not write my story, I do. And it is time to get out of my slump and to brainstorm my next course of action. The first step is denial but I am now on the second step - acceptance. For those who feel the same way, know that you’re not alone. We are in this together and we’ll get out of this together. Keep on making mistakes as long as you keep on trying. Sending positive vibes and lots of love <3

[the-dhanakp]

01.21 am and still counting. 🤯

[thewannabemedic]

19.01.2020 Drowning in genetic chaos.