Second year review

This summer, I am taking an online Qualitative research methods course as part of my course requirement. I thought I would hate it but it's actually not so bad. It's just super intense because it's online and it's been compressed for two months. The workload is crazy, but I'm beginning to enjoy it. The best part of it is the journal taking. It's helped a lot with focusing your thoughts down and narrowing your research. It might work with quantitative project too! I also liked the encouragement given by the instructor. She's so nice! I noticed this is probably cultural difference; Americans tend to be very encouraging. Even if you're not doing it perfectly, they still motivate you, and this is always good when you are feeling uncertain about how you doing and want some feedback. Some instructors in my department are very strict, and they rarely reward you for working hard. I know why they are doing it; they don't want you to be overconfident in your work and they expect you to be aware of the extremely high standards in the Comprehensive Exams and the preliminary paper writing (which is the first step after completing coursework and before CE and defending your proposal).

As of now, I am approaching the end of my second year. By fall, I expect to finish my coursework and start preparing for my preliminary. I have yet to decide what I am going to do! (which is kind of scary but that gives me some goals to accomplish by end of this year). I know I should meet up with my supervisor more often, but she's been away (for sabbatical) and I haven't had significant progress to report to her. I know she'll tell me that I need to start deciding what I want to do for my thesis. It's funny how your ideas change when  you learn more. I thought I knew what I wanted to do but now I am less sure. We'll see.

The most important thing I have to do now is to keep my spirits up. I have problems with fluctuating motivation. Some days are better than others. It gets tougher as I progress and I am trying to steel myself. I don't think I will feel any relief until I pass my preliminary writing, sit for my comprehensive exam and successfully defend my proposal. I still have a long, long, long, way to go!