Week Two: The Marrow

Within the movie Dead Poets Society there is a line that I like “suck the marrow out of life” (Weir, 1989). I like to think that this means that there is a lot of great substance to life that cannot be seen by the eye. Graduate work is no different. It is important to make sure that each and every lecture and study material is examined and its relevance to your field of study uncovered. While some of the material that we study each day might not be a huge foundational support of our future work, that does not mean that it is not important. Just like the marrow within a bone does not itself support the body, it is still the life blood of the structure that supports the body. Every opportunity we have to learn something of relevance to our study is important. This week has helped me to realize this. Each of the lectures have been rich with content, and their material interesting but all very foundational. I really want to understand this material to make sure that the foundation of future study can have a foundation to be built on.

Tactics:

• Developing a stream of consciousness writing style to get drafts of papers started. This will be very rough around the edges at first but will help in development of ideas and reorganization as papers begin to develop.
• Be prepared to be challenged on your way of thinking. Each program is designed to challenge and push students toward a higher level of thinking. This at times means deconstructing and reconstructing ideas that once might have been important.

Tips so good that I cannot take credit for them.

• “Manage your freak outs.” There are going to be moments throughout the number of years that lie ahead that each us will “freak out” about the mass amount of things that lie ahead. It is important to try learn to develop a level head and roll with the punches that the program throws at you. This way when the time comes that something large does happen, and it is worth of a “freak out” you will not be so emotionally drained that the task can be taken in stride and the additional work that remains unfinished can still be undertaken.
• Schedule your “fun” time. There is enough work to do within graduate programs to keep someone busy during all hours that you might be awake. Now that the program has started it is time to defend territory that will help to insure your long term health. This means finding time that preserves both your physical and emotional health. This might mean scheduling time to make sure that you are getting a chance to remain fresh and on top of your personal health.
• Try to focus all of your writing assignments and projects around your potential research areas. This helps to start do develop competency in your areas of interest and start to identify potential voids of research that might help to identify areas of research for later. Making your job in the future even easier. “Think smarter, not harder” your brain will be plenty worn out later on in your academic career.
• Work a little bit each day. This breaks down the overall work load to make things more manageable.

Techniques I have tried that may or may not be worth considering using.

• Review the materials you are addressing for class a second time briefly prior to class starting. There is so much material to review for each week that it is very easy to lose site of materials that are critical for discussion in as little as a couple of days.
• Write a brief summary of the article or chapter on the cover page of the piece so there is an easy reference for later. This could be used in class, research comps and especially for the dissertation toward the end of your program.
• Keep an ongoing list of research interest areas to begin to investigate. This will give you quick access to ideas for potential research all throughout your program and make things a lot easier. Using google docs, or carrying a notepad in your work bag are methods I have used that have worked nicely.

Quote that best represents the week.

• “Sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone. (Weir, 1989)”
• In other words, don’t take the advice above too far.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Resources:

Haft, S., Junger Witt, P., Tony, T. (Producers), & Weir, P. (Director). (1989). Dead poets society. [Motion picture]. United States: Silver Screen Partners IV.