All posts filed under: Graduate School

A year on: Graduate school, impostor syndrome, and all that jazz.

Published by Layla

This time last year, I was on the phone at work, asking for the entrance exam results for graduate school admissions. At first, I thought I heard it wrong, I had to ask the admissions staff to repeat the exam result to me, and I was told, “See you at the orientation.” That felt unreal. It still felt like it. Now, here I am, in my second semester of graduate school, trying to comply with requirements despite a pandemic, sitting in front of my desk bleary-eyed, trying to think of an objective for a certain topic for a research proposal. Time flies so fast, doesn’t it? But even so, I still couldn’t help feeling that I don’t deserve to be in graduate school. Yes, even after getting a pretty good grade during the first semester. I still couldn’t help but feel that everything I have achieved is a fluke, that I’m bound to flounder sooner rather than later. I don’t know if I am the only one who feels like that in academia–I sometimes feel like …

I’m depressed, employed, and I go to grad school: How I (try to) make it work

Published by Layla

NB: This blog post waited for a long time to be written. I wanted to see how well I would do in my first semester of graduate school. Admittedly, I expected to fail. But through hard work and loads of perseverance, and with loads of familial support, I did better than I expected. This entry is inspired by a Girlboss article I read over two years ago; it has helped me become a productive employee and student.  I have decided to put my own spin with regard to the aforementioned article, and at the same time, I would still like to integrate it to the things I have learned from it. I also suggest that the reader take the time to read the original article first before reading this one. More than three years ago, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It was, in some odd way, a relief that I had that closure; for a long time since I was a teenager (and probably as far as my childhood), I knew that there was …

A few of my favourite apps to help me study

Published by Layla

Here I am, making an effort to be a little more active in this blog. 🙂 I’m back after preparing and slogging through midterms, and speaking of midterms–a lot of revising and swotting went on for the past two weeks. My birthday came and went without much notice, except a trip to this paper convention I’ve planned to go to since it was announced around March or April. Anyway, I’ve veered away from the subject matter! These apps have helped my study experience easier. From Dropbox to good ol’ Microsoft Word, I’m going to share it! 🙂

Life update number 2: A month into grad school, and a few important takeaways

Published by Layla

  Hi! Here I am, writing this post whilst sick. No worries, I’m feeling slightly better, but not yet in perfect working condition. So, I have taken the time to write this little update. And tonight, whilst writing this entry, I realised that it’s been a month since I started graduate school. To use a cliche–time really does fly. And with that realisation, there are other things I have learned, too.

A little life update + current favourites

Published by Layla

Hola! Hope you are all doing well. Here I am, a few weeks into graduate school. And to be honest, I felt a bit lost. But here’s the tea–graduate school is a different ballgame from law school. For years, I’ve gotten used to having insults hurled by professors whenever they do not like my answer, or whenever I gave a wrong one. While the professor seemed dissatisfied, he didn’t say anything more and asked the same question to a classmate.

Lost in UP: An adventure story

Published by Layla

I have always come to the University of the Philippines to get my additional readings photocopied/springbound, because the print/bind shops there do it so well. There are only two places I know like the back of my hand: the Shopping Centre and the college I [now] belong to. The Shopping Centre burnt down last year, so that’s one less place I remember. Anyway, I digress. It was a grey July day that I went to the university’s campus on a mission. My to-do list: Drop a letter at the Institute of Environmental Science (an errand for my boss)-done -Submit physical and dental exam forms and x-ray film at the Health Services-done Submit medical certificate to SOLAIR-done

It’s Sinking In

Published by Layla

Well, hello you. Again, it’s been ages since I have written an update, and during that time, I wasn’t in a very good place mentally and emotionally. As well, I have been physically ill a lot, the heat being the main culprit. There was another reason for the silence. I’ve applied for graduate school at the end of April; took the exam on the 11th of May. Well, who look got in.