- So it is that time of the year. Now, I have to face the comprehensive examinations.
I have been enrolled under residency for the past year, having decided that I’ll take a year off to have an idea what I wish to do with my thesis.
Since changing gears, I took my time traveling, which culminated with a vacation in Europe. But at the back of my mind, I knew that I had to eventually face schoolwork.
That time has finally arrived.
My personal promise was after the long-awaited vacation to Europe, I’d put my head back in the game. It was, however, too difficult to even think of my comprehensive exams and moreover, the thesis.
Translation: you are just lazy
So I went back watching Angela Duckworth and her grit Ted Talk on YouTube: and I ouch.
What struck me was when she said that talent does not make you gritty, and that there are many talented individuals who simply do not follow through on their commitments. Ouch, again.
While I do not remotely consider myself talented, I just could not bear hearing that I had been failing myself with me begrudgingly dragging myself to study. Whatever happened to ‘first Europe, then compre’?
Since I delayed taking the exam last year, I had traveled 6 times in a span of 10 months: thrice in Singapore, twice in South Korea, and recently a long trip to France and Italy.
It was a costly venture. On the other hand, I had been also mentally taking notes of potential thesis topics, not even one that is so intellectualized and world peace-y, but something interesting like in the fashion industry.
How did I even arrive there, I have no idea. But I just wish to be able to power through the commitment I made to myself last year: just finish it after that trip of a lifetime.
Yet here we are, looking at YouTube videos to get the motivation to get my ass to move. I am also very much behind on things I wish to edit and write, and still having issues prioritizing.
But I am here again, writing on my blog as it was originally intended as writing practice for my comprehensive examinations more than a decade ago.
As I write this, however, I already know the answer.
