End of the Year

Of the five semesters that I've been working for MechSE, I think this is the first time I've taken finals week off. Honestly, I should have done it all of my past semesters as well; I never work as many hours during finals week as I tell Bill I will. Things always get in the way, I sleep in, I realize I'm not as prepared for my exams as I thought I was. So this semester, as I had no pressing projects, I came in on the Friday before finals to work the last hours of the week and told Bill I would not be coming in during finals. He sounded surprised, if only because I had always worked during finals, and qualified his surprise by saying that the other two student workers would not be coming in next week, either. So I'm not alone.

(By the way, we hired another student worker! Her name is Taylor, and she's very nice. I've been asked to take her on an interview with me, but so far things haven't worked out. Maybe next semester. Like me, she's a science major; unlike me, she's actually majoring in Mechanical Engineering.)

My energy articles all got in on time! The magazine went to print. I was thinking of emailing Bill to come in and grab some, so I could take some copies home over winter break, and show them to family over Christmas and to Sally at Sunday River. The energy section took up a 12 page spread! Crazy. But since I wasn't the only contributor, this time I didn't get my name at the end. I didn't mind--the vast majority of the text was mine, as well as most of the subsections. I also was heavily involved in the editing process.

Not only do we have another student writer, but another full-time communciations specialist as well. Her name is Julia, and so far I like her. I still work directly for Bill, but she's also my superior and can give me assignments. She complimented me while we were editing the magazine on my writing and editing skills, particularly when I had no formal training in communications.

It's a relief to not be working this week. It's nice to just be able to focus on my studying. I also proctored one of the physics final exams, so I am at least making a little money this week. I have not been contacted by my tutoring student, though, and he said he would want my help for finals. I don't think he got the grade on the last midterm that he wanted. Maybe he doesn't think I'm worth it.

I was offered a position as a physics TA for next semester. I turned it down, despite it being something I've always wanted to be. Next semester will just be too difficult. I'll be taking 17 credit hours, and two of the hardest physics courses in the curriculum. I just don't have the time. I don't want to set myself up for failure. Next year, however, I will be taking fewer credit hours, and only one physics class a semester (not counting my research and senior thesis). Hopefully I will be a physics TA then. I really, really want to be.

I don't know when I'll stop this job. Probably at the end of next semester, if I don't start research before the summer. I'm dreading the moment when I have to say goodbye to Bill.