For the past week, I have been trying to savor the excitement of being at a new place, a new school, a new campus, and a new environment. I look forward to getting acquainted with my fellow graduate students, especially the first-year students. I have been attending graduate level mathematics classes. However, I was (and still am) rather overwhelmed by some of my classes, especially my favorite analysis.
My analysis homework (and lectures) inundates my first week with pressure, stress, and to some extend, fear. The professor speaks at the speed of light, even when he presents unfamiliar proofs of new theorems and/or propositions. I am lost in the class. The homework is a nightmare. The problems assigned are excruciatingly difficult. They macerate my confidence in shreds. I could spent countless hours on a single problem and ended up not knowing where to even start. It certainly does not feel good.
Last week, when I first felt really down (and before I spoke to anyone), I experienced a mild depression. I was feeling blue for the rest of the evening (after sitting in a 1.5 hours long lecture not understanding a single thing), and I experienced insomnia that night. I tried not to think of what happen – but my instinct told me this is “alarming” and I worried nonstop.
Thank goodness I spoke to a couple of people about what happen. Most of them, especially my former professor whom I consider a friend, gave me useful advices. I managed to stay more positive and I have been starting to feel better…
Wish me luck. I really need them this time…
I suppose it’s normal to feel lost in the beginning of a new environment, I am also still in the process of adapting to my clinical schools. I am sure you will be able to go through it with your dedication. Feel free to talk to me if you just need a pair of eyes or ears.
OMG that must be bad, coming from you.
But I wish you all the best and luck you need! Hope you’ll find your comfortable pace soon.
*hugs*
I can feel how tough grad classes are. But I’m sure it’s an adjusting period and you’ll get over it really soon.
Good luck and my best wishes are always with you.
Stay positive and have more faith in yourself. You shall be fine…
All the best! Call me anytime if you need to talk.
Had a look at your homework…and that is called “Introductory”? OMG. Okay, perhaps I didn’t do Maths, that’s why. Hehe.
Anyway, all the best in everything. Like Chang Yang said, it’s normal to feel upset about something. Everyone feels that way. And that’s the time when we really need someone to talk to, to motivate us, to give us words of encouragement. I’m glad you did that. All is not lost until you give up. When my experiments didn’t work out, I was very upset too. I had high expectations, considering the amount of effort I put in every time. I was very depressed – Jin Ye knows.
I thought to myself, why I am doing this. Then someone told me, I should not expect to discover something when I am just doing 8 months of research, when other well-known scientists have researched it over years. I should take this 8 months of work as a journey to learn something. And success is when you learn something, not when you achieve something. The reward of success is only that you get to achieve something. Jia you, Prof Fu! 
Dear friends,
I am so touched when I read your comments – those thoughtful and encouraging words have no doubt mitigate my mental stress.
Your hugs and heartening have made my day more bearable. I have been able to stay more positive towards the situation. By now, I have optimistically recognize the undergraduate-postgraduate transition and I vow to work harder to overcome it.
Thanks for having faith in me when my hope reserve approaches one over infinity. I am sure it is somehow transferable because the reserve has augmented since. Thank you for sharing your anecdote that further inspire me to break through the current obstacle.
Thanks for reminding me of a Chinese aphorism that I believe in firmly – the greatest grief in human kind is from giving up.
Your wishes are warmly appreciated. Your good luck bestowed upon me are wholeheartedly bethought of.
With your extra thrust, I shall move forward confidently!