1.21.26
Starting the spring semester off with a bang with some unexpected views of the Aurora borealis (Northern lights) between Monday and Tuesday evening – what a show! The beauty of nature has kept me grounded and reminds me to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the little things along the way.
2026 is supposed to be a big year as I begin drafting my dissertation, prepping for the job market, and doing all of the things that one is “supposed to do” at this stage in the PhD program. I was reflecting upon the fact that it’s already been nearly 5 years since I moved to Albany in the middle of the pandemic, and while in some ways, it feels like little has changed, I can certainly feel myself getting older and gaining experience. My 20-year-old self could never have dreamed about being where I am today; that’s for another day, but finding my people and true love of academia–including the good, the bad, and the ugly–has helped motivate me along this journey.
Of course, there are always things that I could be doing better and often aspire to do differently, but I’ve realized that success doesn’t always roar, and I’m working on celebrating the little wins along the way this year. First up: getting to know my wonderful students in ASOC 310 – Social Research Methods, and becoming more efficient in my teaching prep (this will be my third time teaching this course within the past year) so that I can funnel more energy into the dissertation and networking/job market prep.
I’m also hoping to write more here and overhaul this site, so stay tuned!
–AZP
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