One thing that often works for me is deciding to write something bad. As bad as possible. That way you get something out, it's so stupid it's kind of funny, and then you feel better about taking the next step. And you can un-bad it a little bit at a time. Before you know it, you've got something pretty decent.
I had to use this approach a lot when writing SOPs. Sometimes I got so anxious about applications that I would do it in all caps: DEAR FANCY UNIVERSITY, I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO YOU BECAUSE YOUR PROGRAM IS SO, SO PRETTY. I WRITE PLAYS ABOUT BAD THINGS, AND I DON'T TAKE UP MUCH SPACE. PLEASE CONSIDER ME. LOVE, TEETHWAX.
I really enjoyed your first uplifting post. However, I think your rebuttal to 1Q84, be it in frustration, really demonstrated what you wanted to say initially, but didn't have the platform to do so.
I don't understand how you can generalize an entire group of people based on the one comment of someone on the computer screen. In what ways have 1Q84 and other "minorities" minimized your accomplishments? It seems to me that you have some very deep seeded insecurities and are probably more conscious about your ethnicity (being a Latina) than the blase', "I'm just an American/don't focus on being a minority" nature you attempt to portray in your posts. What you are studying doesn't seem to help that justification either.
If what you said is within reason, none of us would be here. Many come on this fora seeking advice, expressing their anxiety, frustrations, anticipations about the unknown--especially those just beginning to start graduate school. My worries are no different than anyone else who is seeking advice about dealing with a new situation. My only scope of educational experience was at my undergrad university (which happens to me majority black) and now attending a university, in a totally different location and environment, which far....far from that. And if you were to really stop and think about it, had I not already experienced "real discrimination" as you term it, I wouldn't have had a reason to create my OP, as issues of race wouldn't be on my radar screen. To minimize my insecurities as "stressing myself out needlessly" about something that is a reality---so much so that my grad university has dedicated a whole BUILDING and task force to addressing---is something that is quite beneath anyone here. If you think it is something that is needless, fine, there is a little x at the top right hand corner of your screen that would make better use of YOUR time.
lilam got a reaction from spunkrag in Reasons faculty do NOT give students they KNOW letters of recommendation