Birthday 2018: Look back and be grateful

Thank God for this day!
I feel like
I feel blessed
Especially that my birthday is fast approaching

I'm not really one to celebrate
I don’t really know the point of celebrating
I guess yeah
There are things to be thankful for

But I feel like the past few months has been so stressful
That I don't feel as lucky as I want to be
But I know I am
I am extremely lucky

I remember that this time last year
I was bored out of my mind
I was praying for something
Anything to occupy my time

I wanted to contribute to society
And I did
I got hired to do this job which is incredible

But you know
It can get old sometimes
But perspective man
Perspective

It has been eye opening to say the least
And I wish I could do more
And I will do more

This experience has motivated me in ways I could never imagine
But first I have to deal with the dirt
The things that are not as fun as teaching or learning or competing
Dirt before the clouds

---
This post was originally written on March 2018. Then edited on April 2020.

Comments

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

This is the greatest love story ever told (and still being written). And I’m living in it! Since this blog has been instrumental in making it happen, it’s only fitting that I post it here. And so when people (me included) think it happened so fast, it’s actually years in the making. Having this blog fast tracked the “getting to know” stage. At least, that’s the logical part of me talking. But love is rarely logical. How it started A day after final exams for the summer term of AY 2023-2024, I received a bunch of anonymous emails. At first, I shrugged it off as a newsletter that I signed up to. A couple emails later, it became clear that it came from one of my former students. Didn’t know it was her until August 2nd. Realized feelings were mutual the day after. Made the relationship official on August 7th. I was the one who asked because “she didn’t wanna cross the line”. I used to say, in this blog , that I’m only interested in how couples get together, not really what’s ...

Dream high: My ideal dissertation topic

I want my study to be foundational . Something I and others can stand on. Seminal, I would say. I don't want it to just be a dissertation. Something you write and then forget. I want it to inspire me and others. The second criteria that I want is interdisciplinarity. It has to draw on two or more fields--not just mathematics. Something people outside math can appreciate. The T-shaped model comes to mind. The generalist-specialist. Source: Why T-shaped people? by Jason Yip I know it's a pipe dream. But if I have to dream, why not dream high, right? But I have to be careful that it doesn't stop me from even starting. I should not let perfectionism hinder me from exploring.

Happy new year!

I'm done with the dissertation. I sent it to my adviser and I'm just waiting for his feedback. This past month has been tough. I realized that I couldn't make it to the deadline. I could not graduate this semester. My break was not fun. It was no break at all. But it's over now. And strangely, I don't know what to do with myself. What do I do with my free time? Guess I gotta find a job soon.

Janeth Canama

Search This Blog