Monday, October 28, 2002
 

Since I just got through attempting to offer some help (however ineffectively) to a fellow grad student (not here) today, I thought I'd post this conversation I had (ironically) with "Holmes" (I'm Moriarty) earlier today:

Holmes: " . . . yeah, grad school will kill whatever self esteem you ever had."
Me: "So I've noticed."
H: "And, in case you were wondering, it's natural to feel like they're going to kick you out at any time."
Me: "Another first-year and I were actually just talking about that. We picture getting called into the director, having her explain that admitting us was an accident, and telling us to leave."
H: "We used to spend last year talking about who would be first to get the phone call asking her to leave. Oh, and it's also normal to have to go into therapy."
Me: "Been there, done that."
H: "Excellent! Thinking you need drugs is normal, too."
Me: "I'm trying to resist that route."
H: "Well, if you change your mind, let me tell you what to do. Go down to campus mental health, and they'll ask you why you're there. You'll start off saying, 'Well, I'm in a PhD program,' and they'll cut you off and say 'Say no more! What drugs do you want?'"
Me: "Splendid. You know, we should do group therapy, as a department."
H: "Great! That would be fun!"
Me: "Say, aren't you social chair? I think this is our next group activity . . ."

And that, my friends, is the inspiring conversation du jour. 'Cause we all need somebody to lean on.

Elvisette philosophized at 9:07 PM