college notes: cultural anthropology, week 1

[edenfalling]

I have commented for the second time this week in the Slack discussion channel, and brought the second of our assigned readings into the conversation. I figure that satisfies the "are you contributing something relevant" criterion. :D

I have also tentatively chosen an ethnographic book to read, pending Prof. T's approval. (Approval is not technically necessary, but I'd like to make sure there aren't going to be any unforeseen problems.) Fortuitously, I have a handful of ethnographic studies floating around on my to-read shelves, so this is a great excuse to finally get off my butt and actually read one of them. :DD

And I've read both assigned chapters for next week -- I am trying to stay one week ahead on readings -- so all in all, I am feeling pretty good about things! :DDD

(The problems I've had with college have never included difficulty understanding concepts (...okay, except organic chemistry, because there's no math to get around my difficulty visualizing stereoisomers) or an inability to complete the work. They are all related to depression and the way it steals my ability to start the work, and then swamps me under guilt and futility so I don't try to catch up or ask for help. Since I'm doing all right on those fronts now, this is really kind of a cakewalk. *wry*)

Comments

[alexseanchai]

*eyes last paragraph* r u me

(I mean my problems were historically also undiagnosed ADHD but yeah)

[edenfalling]

I don't know if I have ADHD -- I have some traits that seem symptomatic, but other classic symptoms sound very unlike me, so. *shrug* If I do, it's probably a relatively mild case and I've developed coping methods by this point in my life.

But yeah, school was always intensely frustrating to me because on the one hand, the material was so easy, but on the other hand, about half the time I couldn't make myself do any of it except the reading. *headdesk*

[mme_hardy]

Oh, God, I hear you on depression, so much. So much. I am happy that you're giving it another try.

[edenfalling]

*hugs* Depression is a liar and a bully, and I dislike it intensely.

But I really do feel good about this attempt at finishing a degree! In retrospect, my base mental/emotional state had been slowly sliding downhill since... about 2013, probably, which is undoubtedly what sabotaged my attempt to return to school in 2015. Now I feel so much less sludgy. :)

[wistfulmemory]

Yay for being productive and proactive in your class. You're doing great! :)

[edenfalling]

Thanks! :)