is it something to be happy about?

I don't quite get it why some people are so happy that they're going to finish uni and don't have to study anymore! I mean, isn't learning a lifetime thing? Where goes the saying that you'll never stop learning even when you're well into...you know what i mean.

What about those stories from working friends that their day has become monotonous...wake up...go work...come back from work...too tired hence off to bed early...and the cycle repeats.

Technically doing PhD means that I'm still in uni. I'm still a student. A very 'old' student indeed. Like been studying all my life since ten thousand years ago. But I'm not complaining. At least I can still get student discount whenever I go out. Like to the movies which is always a plus! And 10% discount in Boost Juice! Other than that, the fact that we have flexible hours in research is great! Like now that everyone at workplace is getting along really well, we've even taken up time in the park playing Frisbee or footy or soccer as part of our schedule! Even the supervisor knows about it but he thinks it's actually a good thing. Happy to see a good learning environment over at St. Vincent's and we play and work hard too! We're socializing more around the campus as well organizing outings and friday drinks after work and birthday celebrations etc. This is especially good for people like me who don't have much friends here anymore since most have gone back to work and some are just anti-social in a way.

And being a PhD student we don't have exams anymore. Just hurdles like confirmation and progress report in a year but everything will be based on the final thesis itself. I like to tell people I'm actually a lowly paid research assistant because with a scholarship I'm getting paid to study. I don't see anything wrong with that at all! =D The main thing is time management really. You just have to pace yourself although things like experiments are sometimes not under your sole control, you can find other things to do to fill in the void. I'm learning to take things as it comes and trying not to think so far ahead of time. M (who I have self-appointed as my mentor) said it's good that I'm always thinking of things in the bigger picture but not to overdo it because we have to leave space for when things might not turn out the way you expected. Sometimes, I even take shortcuts, like besides trying to read up on literatures on things that I am interested in finding out, I'll send a short email to my supervisor and ask him about it! Save time on reading! Other times I'll go to my supervisor with ideas and ended up needing to read up more materials. O.o

All in all, it's all a learning process!!