TAing and The Lab

Today I have more students begging for extra points. She says :

"so, umm....I think I'm failing this class".

Yea.....

"Cuz, umm.....I got a zero for my summary rough draft....cuz I plagarized, and then I got a C- on the final draft and you took points off for turning it in late to Turnitin.com......and ....umm.....I don't think its fair because my friends paper was late to Turnitin.com and the TA didn't take points off."

Really, because he's supposed to. I tell them the first day that points will be taken off.....

"So, umm..... is there any way that you could give me those points?"

NO! (shake my head in disgust)

"Well, umm....do you think that you could give us some more bonus points?"

NO!

How about they just read and write what they are supposed to when they are supposed to? They're so annoying!

The quarter is rapidly ending. I can't believe that my first quarter as a PhD student is almost over! It feels like I haven't accomplished anything! I still have to come up with a project and learn my way around the lab!

Ramblings

Time goes by so quickly! I've been living here for 4 months already and I started school two months ago! The quarter is almost over and I still feel like I'm just getting my feet wet. There are so many things to get done and the days just aren't long enough. There are three pressing issues:

1) Finish writing my thesis (it's taking a ridiculous amount of time)
2) Determine what my project is going to be on (I'm supposed to meet with my committee in Spring)
3) Try to find money so that I can actually buy things that I may need for my project

Of course, there's always the rest of the things on my to-do list:

1) Finish this fly/roach project I've started
2) Work on my SICB presentation (I'm speaking this year...no poster for me!)
3) Go thru my Physiology book so that I actually remember things
4) go thru my Statistics book so that I actually remember things
5) Go thru my Molecular book so that I actually remember things
6) Go thru my Algebra book so that I don't say stupid things when I speak with my advisor
7) Figure out what I want to do this summer (I think I want to go to Guatemala and work with this guy named Jack Schuster working on beetles. I spoke to him like 2 years ago and he was all supportive.....I don't know where I will come up with the money though. I think it would be cool cuz maybe I can come up with an idea for a project....)
8) Oh yea....and be smart....I wan't to schedule a special time when I can develop this....

My friend "T" came to visit this weekend. I was so happy! It's been three whole months since we have seen each other, and just last year we were seeing each other every day! Last year I was frantically studying for the GRE and filling out applications and thinking that I would never get in. Now I'm using this labs computer to type this on a Tuesday night. It's amazing how things change so fast. I wonder what it will be like in February when the interviewers come. I hope they don't ask me anything cuz I will have NO idea what to tell them. And to think! Every day that passes is one less day I will spend with Melissa! Its so weird how its only been 4 months since I see her all the time...and how it already seems like it will be weird without her. I miss my friends at CSUSB....