I think in the last article, i.e. in the spring of 2022, I tried to explain the issues that I was confused about. I have noticed that writing about the things that are happening to you is easier than writing about the things that are happening to others. When we meet people every day, listen to their thoughts and maybe even advise them, we mostly stop there and never analyse further how that conversation shapes our personality as well. Anyway, since I have heard the phrase "If you are underthinking, read and if you are overthinking, write", I am just going to follow the same logic and discuss a few aspects of graduate life that have amazed me as a student till now, which I think people experience all the time every day irrespective of their job profile.
Let me start by telling you the routine that I follow, as that will justify why I join the thought process which I am about to unfold. Something exciting happens these days when I wake up! I have bought a digital clock that sits on the table just in front of my bed. When I get up, the first thing I notice is the exact time on that clock. The epic thing is, it's almost always "7:30"!! No! I have not set the alarm for months now! Irrespective of the time I sleep, I end up waking at the same time as if the biological clock is now set perfectly to start the cycle again at 7:30 am! That's just crazy, anyway.
Get up then, get fresh, and complete all morning chores till 8:00. Later there are two combinations of breakfasts that we do on alternate days — either a banana milkshake + eggs or ginger tea + chicken sandwich! Have that, catch a bus only after checking the weather once to decide which clothes to wear! It fucking changes 15-20 degrees easily even within a day! Stupid American weather! I was used to Indian weather fluctuations, which are hardly 3-4 degrees within a day! Go to the lab and spend the day on campus thinking about science and learning new things as the day progresses. By the time it's around 7 pm, depending on the workload I catch a bus back home and cook dinner. Cooking is also done every day, which sounds very unusual to most other students on campus. After dinner and an episode of some television show or a chess match, do homework or self-study for an hour if possible and it's bedtime by 11. This is it! Happens almost every weekday, just the same.
Keeping this routine in mind, it's very funny to see how "coherence" is broken in a certain activity. Suppose I am working in the lab say 10 am, all ready to make the most of the day. Already in my mind say, which is an exaggerated ideal scenario, I have planned my entire working schedule for today. Boom! A picture from home! A text from school friends! An invitation from campus to join him or her for an event that day! All these thoughts are now travelling with me as I pass the day! Each one of these sounds much more fun than what I had planned for the day of work. Now my "coherence" is broken and I am less efficient already!
This is how being social can be such a distraction. Mind you the day is very different at that present moment for the other person who is contacting me virtually! Now switch to another scenario, where I am at work and nothing is working out. Having a terrible day at work, which most of the time is true for a PhD student to fail at something — the same distractions are now just beautiful things! They are the ones now who are going to make your day and life better. Same things, just on a different day in the life! The power of relativity is so intense!
As an adult, I think the biggest challenge is the need to plan everything. Nobody else plans any of your activities! How ridiculous no?! You are telling me that I have to wake up on a Saturday and plan even my weekends now? What to do today? I have realised that even enjoyment requires planning and commitment! Let's go here for a trip, yey! No, first prepare a schedule, ask all your friends, get a car. Check flight tickets, realise that you are still a student, cancel the big plan then orchestrate a small one! Enjoy your vacation while thinking about the time when you have to resume work!
The moment you start questioning in a party that "Is this the correct place where I should be right now", make peace with the fact that you are an adult! The number behind you is slowly piling up and lies ahead is just responsibility! I agree a lot of fun, but can't let go ever. Always stay alert, know about things you are supposed to, behave the way you should and focus on the right things! Till a few years back, I would lie down on a sofa thinking about how many bounces I can achieve before the ball rolls on the floor! Now while doing an activity, I either look ahead or watch back! Everything either connects with the future I am planning or with the life I lived already — literally connecting the dots is the only puzzle we solve every day as an adult.
Earlier I used to believe that being able to think in a certain way, maybe critically, is a blessing. Now I am not sure about that as the happiest person in the room is the one who is able to think the least!
Science wise — it's all merry!
Purdue is the best possible place for me to be at, for learning anything. The Physics department is almost trying to make it an AMO hub — Atomic-Molecular-Optical physics hub. There are numerous scientists that I meet and interact with, recently having an opportunity to have lunch with as well. They have abundance of experience and depth of knowledge in the field. Every session I learn something new, question some phenomena of physics almost anytime I have a discussion with the labmates. Every talk I attend, any workshop I participate in — may it be in the university or at a conference out of state — it's so inspiring that I immediately get fascinated about the recent developments in specific areas of science.
The seasonal change is so very beautiful here. I really think everyone in the world should get the experience of the fall season once in their life, it's that peaceful! Trees full of colours, skies full of life — truly a spectacle! Both extremes from +30 to -30 in temperatures, powerful winds and young bright people around you, I think make you feel both humble and justified at the same time.
Sometimes I just get up at any random time of the day and take a walk around campus, and suddenly a thought enters my mind that — woah! This was my dream I think, a year back or so. Being at a place where nobody knows you and making an identity for yourself! The amount of growth that is there for an individual on this journey is impossible to quantify. While living the dream, we forget that the same guy dreamt it a while ago! Once that hits you, it just makes your day. Of course doesn't stay for long, like most things, but gives you enough kick to enjoy the rest of the day!