I know, I’ve been a total ghost on the blog lately, but I haven't disappeared. I’ve just been buried! If you’re looking for me, you’ll find me living inside a fortress of exam scripts. It’s my new home for now, where the rent is free but the decor is a bit stressful.💆I’ve had to prioritize the big stuff first, and right now, my life is all about the final exam marking.
I’ve been living among these piles for so many consecutive days that I’m starting to forget what a clean desk looks like. This entire weekend is dedicated to finalizing the EW and grades for my MAT223 students, all need to finish before I officially run away for the Chinese New Year break.
In between the marking madness, I’ve also been squeezing in viva voce sessions for my PhD students. Life has felt extra complicated lately because I currently have three students scheduled for their vivas and another two who are about to submit their final drafts. It’s a lot of plates to spin at once, but I’m not complaining. These are the responsibilities I signed up for, and seeing them reach the finish line is a huge part of why I do what I do.
Still, I’ll admit that the academic life can feel pretty lonely sometimes. You have a mountain of tasks, but you don't actually communicate much with the outside world. You just stay in your nest, doing your thing, only popping out for meetings before scurrying back into the shadows to continue the never-ending to-do list. I’ve actually had to start forcing myself to go for 15-minute walks around the building just to prove to my body that sunlight still exists.
However, I had a major breakthrough today! I actually broke out of the office to join my colleagues for a quick lunch break. Getting a group of busy academics together is harder than solving a complex differential equation, but we finally made it happen. It was a massive all-in-one celebration. A farewell for Kak Shidah who is retiring soon, an early Chinese New Year luncheon, a warm welcome for the upcoming Ramadhan, and a 'we made it' party for the end of the semester. 💃
Even though it was short, it was such a refreshing catch-up. For once, we didn't talk about work. Usually, seeing colleagues means discussing syllabus changes or meetings, but today we just talked freely as friends.
It was a great reminder that I need to pay a bit more attention to my own well-being. I need to get back into a routine that keeps my sanity intact, but for now, I’m feeling much more human. That’s my life in a nutshell lately. Looking forward to better days ahead! Happy weekend, everyone! 💕
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