Community
One of the things they don't tell you about grad school is how isolating it can be. Once your done with coursework, you're really on your own.
I've done my best to maintain contact with people, but today I realized that there is this whole little underground community of grad students, people I entered with but no longer see around the catacombs we call our offices. These people are popping up at the library.
You're laughing now, saying "Anita, you're in grad school. Surely you frequent the library enough to know that your buddies are there." Well, my friend, you're wrong. Yes, I have the required too-small-and-drafty-and-quiet study carrel in the library, yes, I check out library books. But I never hang out there long enough to come into contact with the students who are hanging there on a regular basis. I need to be one of them. There's so much writing to do.
Comments
Hi Anita - one thing that has really helped me is starting up a support group with a few other grad students. We meet once a week for a meal, usually breakfast, to set manageable goals for the week, and then we talk about how we did in meeting those goals. When we've written something, we share it with the others to get feedback. It has really helped me set deadlines, and made me accountable because I don't want to admit what a slug I was to my group! It's also nice to keep in touch with friends, and we share fellowship announcements and conference information. I'm hoping someday we'll do a panel presentation together. Anyway, just a thought to fight that grad school isolation!
Posted by: Julia | January 19, 2005 02:47 PM
I make a concerted effort to spend time in the department because I feel so deprived of human contact (other than my husband, of course). Now that I'm in thesis-writing mode, I rarely see others of my year -- but I do see the younger grad students, who can be fun to chat with. Still, my own cohort has virtually disappeared -- they often intentionally *don't* come in, so that they aren't distracted. I can't function that way, I've got to admit. I need my distractions!
Posted by: Aven | January 19, 2005 04:52 PM
Anita,
We just had a GSA meeting yesterday with the single goal of making sure that we all have contact with each other. I know there are other students in this building but aparently their desks have the same magnetic power that mine posesses. We've all agreed to organize outings once a week, so hopefully some contact will be maintained :)
Carrie
Posted by: Carrie | January 21, 2005 02:38 PM
anita, after sitting in on your most recent dissertation group meeting, i hold high hopes for y'all. i hope the group continues to be a constructive and supportive environment as you all begin to move your separate ways. and let's not forget the benefit of a good beverage to help discuss dissertation woes!
Posted by: leigh | January 23, 2005 04:08 PM