Step #1 in developing a plan: figure out what I hope to accomplish with this directed studies.
I have been asked by my advisor to provide him with an overview of my directed studies. I thought it was important to the process so I decided to share it here.
Once I get some feedback I can determine a course of action. Hallelujah!
It’s that time of year – the days are getting longer and anxiety levels are rising as I come closer to the end of my undergraduate degree at UBC. The ever ominous job hunt coupled with what seems like a mountain of work that needs to be completed in a short amount of time has resulted in a serious case of the midwinter blues. In an article printed in The Globe and Mail February 10, 2012 (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/barbara-moses/breaking-free-of-the-midwinter-blues/article2332721/) Barbera Moses provides “tips on how to feel better about yourself, on the job and off.” Luckily Reading Break has arrived and I have been able to take a step back and think about how Moses’s tips could help me in both my school and work life.
Tip #1 – Consider what makes you happy
It’s rare that I stop to think about what inspires me, rather than what needs to be done. I have been studying full-time for almost 6 years now and I am tired. I feel like I have lost a lot of the passion that I see still burning in others. If I pause to think about what I enjoy learning about it’s quite simple. I like learning about issues that involve real-life and practical applications – for example agri-food business. It’s something that I enjoy studying and feel I could be quite good at – who knew? In realizing this I have attempted to immerse myself more in the subject matter by taking applicable course and designing my directed studies around co-operative business structure and database design. Even if those specific facets within business aren’t up my alley at least I tried and can move onto the next.
Tip#4 – Stretch yourself
I like this tip because it suggests taking on an endeavor that makes you slightly uncomfortable. I rarely attend faculty events or connect with those in careers associated with my degree. I am playing it safe by keeping to myself. My biggest regret throughout my university career has been my lack of involvement – despite my many commitments to change. This summer I am going to try to intern for a colleague that is doing a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) project. I hope to gain some hands on experience, step outside of my comfort zone, and work for free – something I am not accustomed to. I have completed many hours of volunteer work (all course required) during my time in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and each has been rewarding in its own way.
Tip #5 – Speak up
This tip is important in carrying out my directed studies. My tendency is to avoid the problems I am faced with, rather than being vocal about my concerns or ideas. It seems I would rather have someone tell me what to do than work through it myself. Taking on a directed studies requires that, as a student, you come up with a project idea that works for you. The student must determine a course of action and the final outcome – under the guidance of an advisor of course! This is a difficult task and requires a lot more time and energy than I thought.
Tip #6 – Invest in your personal life
It’s not to say I have no personal life outside of school and work, but the reward and enjoyment I experience in my personal life is limited. I spend time off exercising and days off cooking meals at home. I enjoy cooking, but perhaps I could explore it more – maybe take a cooking class where I can meet people that are not associated with my work or school life. As Moses says “when people feel good about their non-work activities, there is usually a huge spillover into their work life”.
Tip #8 – Fight the tendency to withdraw
This is a big problem for me. When the going gets tough, I get stuck. I find it hard to visualize how to get things done so as a result I do nothing (see: procrastination at its finest). I withdraw from school colleagues, classes, homework, and assignments. As I said before I would rather ignore the problem than face it – instead I am left with anxiety about my lack of productivity and engagement. In this sense I need a plan – a tangible schedule or timeline – in order to really see how I can begin to tackle a problem. So, it’s time I make a plan for my directed studies – it’s actually a little late to be planning, but it’s the first step in getting everything accomplished.
Tip #9 – Make a date with yourself
This tips suggests you take stock of your life. Is the work you are doing the right fit? What do you hope to accomplish in the next year or two. Thinking about the future is scary for someone coming to the end of a long engagement with scholarly activities. It feels like I have been at university for as long as I can remember. What will my life look like a year from now? What kind of life do I want for myself? What kind of career? How can I make my goals a reality? These are daunting questions for someone who is also trying to complete the coursework that is required for graduation. For now I will choose to focus on my directed studies. Is the work I am doing a good fit for me? Do I find it interesting? If not, what can I change? I think it will be important to make a date with myself each week in order to remain interested and engaged with this project.
So there, a few tips on how to combat the midwinter blues.
Next step, develop a plan!
According to an article that appeared January 12, 2012 in the Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/commentary/chrystia-freeland/the-big-data-revolutions-lovely-and-lousy-jobs/article2300472/) we are at the beginning of yet another technological revolution that will change our lives, and more importantly our jobs. This latest transformation is being referred to as ‘big data.’ We may not be aware quite how much data is intertwined with our daily lives – from a purchase on Amazon to a trip to the local rec centre, we interact with data and databases almost constantly. While big data can increase an operation’s profit margins, the article suggests this new ‘revolution’ will have a mixed impact on workers – resulting in “lousy and lovely jobs.” ‘Lovely’ well-paying jobs will go to one of the 140,000-190,000 graduates with mathematical and analytical minds who have been trained to deal with tremendous amounts of data. What about the rest of us? Apparently we will be “scrubbing floors and wiping tables.”
This article got me thinking about the future of the job market for a new graduate such as myself. I often hear there are no jobs to be had, so with this new data revolution should I expect the worst? I am certainly not of an analytical or mathematical mind. Should I enroll in a computer programming class in an effort to attain a much sought after ‘lovely’ job? Certainly there are jobs out there for all kinds of expertise and I have no doubt that the food system issues I am studying now will be at the forefront in coming years – so I’ll save the computer programming for when I’m really desperate. For now, my solution is to get a general, but firm, understanding of the role data plays in our lives. For my directed studies I plan to develop a simple database in an effort to garner an even better understanding of what this ‘big data’ revolution is all about.