I've taken some time this week to mentally reset. I didn't go to lecture this week as I felt like I needed to study the material on my own. There's a whole can of worms regarding school right now, and it's actually gotten pretty toxic for me. So much drama between classmates, a professor resigning (which we had just found out today), another professor giving half-assed lectures who refuses to give exam reviews because last semester didn't show up to lectures so she's basically butthurt about it, so on...and so forth.

This semester is bringing out the worst in all of us, and I don't want to be surrounded by all the negativities. It's like high school all over again, which is sad--we're all adults here. But before I launch into a long-winded diatribe, I've some good news to share at least.

Along with taking the week off, I feel less stressed out. I needed time to myself, as I was beginning to get tired from having to get up and go to either school or work. Fortunately for me, lecture isn't mandatory--so no points taken off for attendance.

With so many of my other classmates emailing the higher ups in the program, some of them took time to meet with our class to provide some study tips. The fact that they personally touched base and help us out really resonated with me. And now, I am employing some of their study strategies for this upcoming exam. So far, I feel like the information is sticking with me. And just today, another faculty member held a Zoom meeting to answer questions about the upcoming exam and held a study session for those that could attend. I feel more prepared than ever, and touched that they're going to such lengths to get us to succeed.

As far as the other professor goes...well I was quite disappointed with how she prepared us for the last exam. In silent protest, that's why I didn't attend her lectures this time around. I've never had a professor just half-ass her lectures with rushing through the slides, reading verbatim from them, failing to elaborate on things, and not properly answering questions (as in, if I pose a question, rather than give me an honest answer she would brush it off and say something like "Oh, you don't have to worry about that.") But earlier, she finally sent out the focused review for this upcoming exam...despite her original intentions. I think she had received enough complaints from students to finally change it up. Now I'm not one to judge her; this is her first time teaching the material. Still, I expected better... But an exam review is a step in the right direction, so I feel like I can put some trust into her again.

So yes, as far as you can see...it's a shitshow right now. But I keep my head up and keep on trucking. At the end of the day, all I want is for myself and my classmates to succeed. And so, we fight on. We're all in the homestretch now. I think with our class (about 50 of us) banding together to make some changes, it is empowering to see it actually take place. I write this in the hopes that I bring even better news in the coming weeks. 

Man, I can't believe it's 3 more weeks until the semester is over. After that, 3 months' worth of summer vacation. It sounds like a dream to me.