So here we are, at the start of the 5th week at the JPD (that's the Joint Program in Design for the non-initiated out there). I actually had to check a calendar to figure out just how long I've been doing the design thing out here. Days seem to both fly by and drag on forever at the same time. It was just a couple days ago that I was reflecting on the progress I'd made in just the first 2 weeks... ...and then another 2 weeks just passed.
Lately, I've been trying to be at the Design Loft (my home away from home) by around 9-10am each day, and I come home somewhere between 1-4am, pretty much just to sleep. Getting to bed by 2am now feels like a pretty good early night.
I'm not sure whether I am slow, inefficient or just plain busy. It's probably a mix of all three, although I honestly don't find myself wasting that much time at the Loft (maybe my loft-neighbors would disagree).
Everyone who's been through this before tells me that it's just a matter of figuring out priorities, setting time limits for yourself, and just working faster. So far that hasn't really happened for me. On the one hand, I don't want to work myself to death and make life miserable for the next two years. However, on the other hand, I also want to get as much out of this program as I can, not cutting corners or shortchanging myself. It's going to be a difficult balance, especially for someone as particular and prone to perfectionism as myself.
At the moment, I find myself treading water furiously, and just barely keeping afloat.
There's so much more at the JPD, Stanford, and in the Bay Area than just classwork, and I certainly don't want to miss out on anything. Personal connections and professional networks; interesting seminars, lectures and guest speakers; pursuit of my greater career and life goals; on-campus activities... the list goes on.
Before I moved out to California, I started a list of goals for the next two years. With all the craziness of the last few weeks, I actually hadn't even thought about that list since leaving Chicago, until just now. I'd probably be well-served to take another look, and evaluate whether my efforts thus far have been focused on those goals. Just guessing, I think I've probably gotten a little carried away with all my projects and a little too bogged down in the details, and have been missing the bigger picture of why I'm here.
I'll report back next week with my findings.
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