2 down, 4 to go...

Summer is here, and school is out... unfortunately, part of being a grad student means that I'm expected to be around during the summer, doing research and moving forward with my thesis. Daunting task, especially as I've spent my last four summers dividing my time up between camp and traveling. 4 months of research is just a little too much for me to swallow right now, so I've spent the last week recovering from my final exams (both the marking of them and the writing of them), and in a couple of days I'll be off to California (with math in tow, not to worry).

Still, the semester is done: only 4 left to go! At first, I was a bit discouraged: I was under the illusion that I had finished half the work when it was pointed out that I was only a third of the way through (that's what I get for hanging around with math people all the time). BUT I'm done 4 out of 5 classes, so really I'm closer to the end... except for that thesis... right?

Honestly, I'm having trouble imagining spending three months coped up in my office, doing research (whatever that entails, I'm still a little unsure). Rationally, I know that expecting a 4 month vacation every year is insane... but it's a nice dream to have! Especially when you really live during those months. During my undergrad days, whenever I was discouraged with school, I would plan my months of freedom, the trips I would take, the experiences I would have at Ouareau, the days I would spend at the cottage. I just don't think I'm cut out for that 2-week summer holiday thing, which seems to indicate that I should plan a career in the academic world. But that would imply a PhD, which isn't in the cards for me, I think.

Seems that giving up my long, long, summers is just one more step on the path to adulthood... and it seems that I'll be taking it in baby steps, and digging my heels in, as per usual!