Now a last-minuter

From a time-management perspective, I seem to have become a much worse student since my undergrad days.

Right now, I am on a computer in my study working on drafts of two papers simultaneously (one due tomorrow, one due Thursday). Occasionally, I am drifting back to the well-lit zone in my bedroom to do the readings on which these two papers are ostensibly based.

Peppering all of these tasks are asides in which I make note of things to discuss at tomorrow’s 350 meeting and try to schedule this week’s remaining obligations.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.

3 thoughts on “Now a last-minuter”

  1. I think that it is a natural trend. As we get older, our lives become filled with multiple obligations and interests and it becomes increasingly difficult to focus on a single task. You have better concentration than anyone I know, but I believe you when you say that it is hard. The ability to multi-task is a valuable skill.

  2. After ten straight hours of non-stop grading, I now need to read the following and write a 5-7 page paper on them by noon tomorrow:

    • Martin Papillon, “Is the Secret to Have a Good Dentist? Canadian Contributions to the Comparative Study of Federalism in Divided Societies,” in White, et al., The Comparative Turn
    • Jennifer Wallner, “Empirical Evidence and Pragmatic Explanations: Canada’s Contributions to Comparative Federalism,” ibid.
    • Samuel V. LaSelva, The Moral Foundations of Canadian Federalism (Montreal and Kingston: M-QUP, 1996), chapters 1 and 10.
    • Herman Bakvis and Grace Skogstad, “Canadian Federalism: Performance, Effectiveness and Legitimacy,” in Bakvis and Skogstad, eds., Canadian Federalism: Performance, Effectiveness and Legitimacy 2nd ed. (Toronto: OUP, 2008), chapters 1 and 18.
    • Richard Simeon, “Plus Ça Change … Intergovernmental Relations Then and Now,” Policy Options March-April 2005, 84-7.
    • Richard Simeon, Political Science and Federalism: Seven Decades of Scholarly Engagement (Kingston: Queen’s University Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, 2002).

    The notes from yesterday’s Toronto350.org termly general meeting are now online, as well.

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