I've survived my first week as a graduate student ...

... just barely. I thought it would be easy to slip back into student life again, but I'm having a harder time adjusting than I'd thought. I'm already behind on my readings and starting to freak about about assignments and due dates. When I did my undergrad, I always took a reduced course load. Now I have to contend with 5 courses in a semester which has been frequently described by those who have gone before me as "brutal". On top of that, I have this overwhelming sense that I'm surrounded by people who are much brighter and more motivated than myself. And if that weren't bad enough, I came down with a horrendous cold mid-week and I fear I may be viewed as somewhat of a leper by my fellow grad students. It's hard to make friends while you're coughing and sneezing incessantly.

In spite of all this, I am feeling optimistic. Next week WILL be better. Things are looking up already—my cold seems to have run its course, and now I'm off to Starbucks for a couple of hours to catch up on my readings.