Hello everyone! It’s me again! I really can’t believe that I’m almost finished the second semester of my MA. At least now graduate student life seems a bit more organized. I’m more comfortable with all the work and responsibilities I have. I definitely have a well-established routine and grad life seems less like a chicken running around with its head cut off. It’s more like playing Mario Kart; you think everything is going fine but you’re actually looking at the wrong screen and crashing into a wall.
A few weeks ago I submitted my first abstract to a conference. This is by far the most exciting thing that happened during my entire MA. I’m totally obsessed with my research but in a good way. However, just like in Mario Kart, I crashed into a wall. My abstract was rejected, which is not the end of the world. It was my first attempt at getting to a conference and there will be other opportunities. But the real challenge here is dealing with rejection. My abstract was just one more instance in a long line of getting rejection letters. Every scholarship and any university related award I have applied for so far has been rejected. It is really hard to look at all the work you put into something and then be rejected. It’s terrible to feel like you’re not good enough and it’s really difficult to deal with that. I’m lucky to have a great support system here at MUN and back home, and I would be a crying wreck all the time if I didn’t have my parents cheering me on. However, one of the things I struggle a lot with is the fact that the rejection letters never give you any feedback. I understand that the people on these selection committees have other things to do but it would be really helpful to know just one thing that was wrong with the application and improve it the next time you apply for something.
Putting aside the academic side of my life, I have to say that my work with the MUN Mentors Program gives me so much to look forward to and so many great memories to look back on. Last month we had our first big event of the semester and we decided to have an international potluck. It was truly one of the most wonderful evenings I ever had. I tried the most amazing dishes from all over the world and laughed until my belly hurt with the best people I ever had the pleasure to meet. Despite all the struggles, I’m really looking forward what the final year of my MA will bring and to sharing some of those experiences with old and new friends I made in the MUN Mentors Program.
Until next time…
~Marina