Month 2

Yes - I doubled up this month.  I promised myself I would be okay with being flexible, even though it felt like I was breaking the rules.  I"m aware that CACUSS and the CCR summit are coming up, which basically means I have two weeks out of the city.  So doubling up it is! 

Some notes I had this month: 
  • Beginning to see a theme around mental health and the environment
  • OH WAIT. MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH that makes more sense
  • U of T lectures which are theoretical are pretty boring – engaging lecturers have a way to make the topic applicable, even if it’s not
 I think this month I really started to appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with friends.  As much as I hate to admit it (because I'm very comfortable alone, and I'd like to think I could network and make connections at events), attending events with friends made it substantially more enjoyable and fun. That being said, I do enjoy going to events by myself as well!  

I think it's getting difficult attending lectures after a full day of work.  When I go to class, the stuff I'm studying is still relevant to my day to day work, and the information is conveyed in a language I speak. I can have discussions with people who understand the context and environment I come from.  When guests and faculty talk about their work in an event, I am engaged and interested, but not necessarily to the degree of class. I also find faculty don't simplify enough, and sometimes if I zone out for a second, I've lost the entire content.  Not sure if this is more a "me" problem or a "they" problem. 

I'm definitely learning more about myself.  I've always had bad memory which was challenging in undergrad, and it's definitely been reiterated during this project.  I figured I wouldn't have to take notes since I'm attending these sessions for interest.  But sure enough information was just flying by, and I found that to retain it I 100% needed to take notes.  So I'm that person taking notes; but it's because I just want to remember the information after...I'm not THAT much of a nerd!


-M