The Graduate Years
I moved to Lincoln in June 2021 to start my Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska -- Lincoln.
Now that I've been here for a few years, outside of school I spend most of my time jumping from one hyperfixation to the next, the fruits of which are scattered throughout this site. I also rock climb at the local gym, volunteer at the local high school, and teach algebra at the local penitentiary. I make up for this by refusing to eat or buy local under any circumstances. Life is all about balance.
That being said, I have an increasing number of hobbies that I really would like to dedicate more time to, which I will list here (more to remind myself what I want to do than for any other reason):
- Photography: Following the IFSC Boulder Worldcup I attended in May 2022 I realized that all the pictures I took on my phone were, shall we say, not good. I have since gotten my hands on a camera and would like to hone my skills as a photographer. So far that has manifested in several dozen pictures of my cats and a few dead batteries, but I remain optimistic.
- Spanish: I hated languages in school. I took four years of French in high school before placing into the lowest possible course offered at Willamette. I'd only taken French in the first place because Italian wasn't offered and I thought my brother would be able to help me with my homework (he did not), so I decided to give Spanish a shot instead. After a semester I was convinced that languages were just not for me, and the language requirement at Willamette soon became one of my least favorite parts about college. Now that several years have passed and I have learned a little more about learning itself, I think I am ready to give Spanish another shot. I no longer say that I am 'not a language person,' opting instead for the kinder 'the way languages are taught in educational settings does not mesh well with my learning style'. A lot wordier, yes, but it is no longer a statement about who I am as a person, merely the circumstances I find myself in.
- Guitar: I considered buying a guitar during the pandemic before ultimately deciding against it. I've always wanted to learn, but I recognized that I wasn't in a place where I could dedicate the time and energy needed to practice. Absolutely none of that has changed, but due to unforseen circumstances I am now in posession of a very nice accoustic guitar and would like to learn a few songs. Wonderwall, here I come.
