Janeth Canama

After graduation, I was hired as a lecturer in IIT. I attended IACP 2023 in Cebu. It was my first time there. It was also the first time I had my flight cancelled. And we were rescheduled to a flight in the morning. Then, on the way back, I almost missed my flight! Good thing I checked-in in advance and had my boarding pass printed. Phew! Just charge it to experience. Be on the airport 2-3 hrs before the flight even in domestic flights. Then the summer term got shortened to just a month. That was interesting. And now I'm preparing for the first semester of the upcoming school year.  Welcome to the real world, Janeth. 

Hi. I got my PhD last July 18. This means that the PhD 2023 Project is a success! There's nothing much to say. It was a rollercoaster ride. After several challenges, it was done. People were happy for me, they were congratulating me. But honestly, I'm just relieved. It dragged on longer than it should and towards the end I was just waiting. I was bored with nothing to do. Maybe one of these days I will write a longer reflection of the journey but I just wanted to formally end it. Hence this post.

A letter to myself (written Nov 2021) *** You probably heard by now. The result of the comprehensive exams. And I'm going to influence that (whatever it is). You're probably angry with me because I slacked off. I continue to procrastinate because I haven't been punished yet. I hope I don't get punished. You're going to take the brunt of that. It's weird talking to you (myself) like this. I know I'm already behind. I don't know where to start. Where to prioritize. I can't afford to go slow. But I also can't panic. I hope I don't panic tomorrow. I know I've been selfish. Talking about myself like this. What about you? I hope you get the favorable outcome that you wanted. I haven't been helpful on that front. But I will still try. No matter how small time there is left. If I'm able to pull this off, I hope you give your best in your research! Show them what you're made of! That's the only consolation for the anguish that this...

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.

  Before the feels fade and the high subside, I just want to document that I had a really great time in this year's MSP Region 10, 12 & BARMMM annual convention. I think it's the most fun conference I've attended, to date. I've been to a couple conferences in other MSP Regions, and conferences in math education but I think what makes this special is that most participants in this conference are my cohort. My peers who I used to only interact virtually I saw face-to-face. It was fun discussing math and everyone being enthusiastic about it. You could see collaborations forming after presentations. I don't think I will have a collaboration from it but it doesn't matter. This is me dipping my toes in the math ocean. I crave community and I got it. So many more things to reflect on but that will be reserved to my private journal. We gotta move forward, baby. No time to dwell.

I know Taylor Swift has released a new album. I don't really have a favorite though. I have not listened to it enough. Maybe 'questions?" So here I am at midnight. And I can't sleep. I should have went to the closing program of non-gaussian analysis. Maybe then I'll get tired from walking. I thought I could get some work done today but nada. Nothing about today went as planned. But that's fine. That's just life. I'm overwhelmed. Too many things are happening. My life could change in the next two months if I do it right. Where do I draw the inspiration from? I'm thinking of dedicating my dissertation to my late grandparents. I know I'm better at helping other people than myself. That's just my flaw. I can't sleep and there's a conference tomorrow. I'm way overstimulated and my mind is running at high speed. Will you settle down, please?

Our paper has been accepted for publication in Symmetry! This is indeed a milestone and I'm one step closer to graduation. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed and I don't know what to do. This will give me a second wind to revise the manuscript for IDAQP. I've never been under this scrutiny from reviewers. I don't remember it being this tedious in my masters. Well, we were not required to publish then.  Anyway, I could get used to this feeling. I love the validation more than the fact that I'm closer to graduation. I'm excited to write more! I'm excited to do more research although I hate the revision process. It's love-hate, yes. But the pay-off is worth it. Now the pressure is on to submit the dissertation manuscript to my advisers and then to the panel. I hope I can make it.