new start

so, it was time for a new blog and a new start. there are some changes coming up on the horizon, which is pretty excited. usually i get pretty freaked out about changes and transitions, but this time i'm really looking forward to what's coming up. weirdly, i'm not going to get into a lot of the details right now, because things are still a bit uncertain. don't want to jinx it. :) the one thing that i can reveal at this point is that i'm getting really close to being finished with my course work for my degree. i'm taking three courses next semester, which will mean that in the fall, i will only need to take one more class and will be able to take my preliminary exams at the end of the fall semester. preliminary exams are probably the most terrifying exam on the face of the earth...and this from the girl who had test-anxiety for the first time in her life when she took the LSAT.

basically, the members of my dissertation committee will give me a big-ass list with a ba-f*#k ton of reading on it that i need to be acquainted with. from what i've heard from a couple of my friends who are going through this process, it's more reading than seems possible in the amount of time you have to prepare. then i will do a written and an oral examination made up of whatever questions my committee members want to ask me. i get two chances to pass the test and if i don't do it either time...hmmm....guess i'll be looking for a good paying job or a sugar daddy. :) once i successfully pass the test though, i'm ABD (all but dissertation). at that point, i can apply for jobs and teach and will only have to finish my dissertation. (only...as if that's some tiny feat!) that part is really exciting, because i'm getting more and more antzy to start teaching and to get to try out a new city. believe it or not, college station is not the most exciting or cultured place in the world. :) it is really great to finally have a plan for my dissertation and have a focus for my course work. now i just need to get some teaching experience (which will hopefully be soon) and get some publications (which will also hopefully be soon). there are a lot of hoops to jump through and things that i need to accomplish to be competitive in the job market when i leave here. i'm just hoping to be well-rounded enough that i can do anything. we'll see how that turns out.

i wish i knew exactly what i wanted to do right now, but i just don't. i know, i know...it will all work out for the best. :) it always does. so, not sure what else to write in my first entry. hopefully future entries will be a little more witty and a little less whatevery.

more to come!