We’re here again. August recap! And the fact that the past three weeks have been completely swallowed by the start of semester is both baffling and very on-brand for my life. So much happened in August before the 23rd that I almost forgot all of it. Almost. Let’s get into it. 🍂
My First 10K at Central Park in New York City
Let’s start with one of the biggest things I did this month. I ran my first 10K in New York City! On August 2nd, I participated in the New York City Comic Run at Central Park. The race is essentially a 10K where you dress up as any character you want like Marvel, DC, anime, whatever character you love and run in costume. Obviously, the costume has to be reasonable enough that you can actually run in it. So what did I do? I put on an all-black outfit, threw on a Catwoman mask, and called it a day. 😂
This was my first outdoor 10K. I’ve done plenty of 10Ks at the gym, but outdoor running is a completely different beast. And oh my goodness. This was the hardest race I have ever done. The hills. The ascents. The descents. The distance. My own poor pacing. Everything! I made the mistake of going way too fast during the first kilometer. I was basically like, zoom zoom zoom! and then, naturally, all that energy disappeared.
By around 4K, I genuinely wasn’t sure whether I was going to make it to the end. But somehow, I did. And I learned a very important lesson: pace yourself! I don’t need to use all my energy in the first couple of kilometers. I need to anticipate my pace, manage my breathing, and be intentional about how I use my energy throughout the race.
Despite how brutal it was, finishing gave me such a sense of accomplishment. I got another medal too! So now I have medals from two 5Ks and my first 10K, which makes me very happy.
And yes, I’m already thinking about the next challenge. Maybe a half marathon. Eventually, perhaps a marathon. And once I get through my swimming and biking lessons, who knows? Maybe one day I’ll even attempt an Ironman. But let me not get ahead of myself. 😂 Progressively. That’s the key.
For me, running and working out have always been about one question: What can my body do? How much can I challenge myself without pushing myself in a way that is detrimental to my health? The 10K was another opportunity to find out. And apparently, my body can do quite a lot.
A Solo Movie Date
If you read my June and July recap, you’ll remember that I had a little list of things I wanted to do before the semester started. August gave me the opportunity to check a few more things off.
On August 5th, on a completely random Wednesday, I went to the movies by myself. I got a deal for a half-price AMC ticket, and obviously I wasn’t going to waste that opportunity.
So I went to see The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan, starring Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Matt Damon, and an entire cast of incredibly talented people. And it was phenomenal. But honestly, the movie wasn’t even the only thing that made me happy. I was proud of myself for intentionally doing something alone.
I had watched a movie by myself before, but that was different. This time, I specifically wanted to do a solo activity because of something I’ve been learning about myself this summer: I want to be able to enjoy my own company. So that was another one checked off the list.
One thing I unfortunately didn’t get to do was visit Old Westbury Gardens. That one has officially been moved to my 2027 list. I already have the dress picked out and everything! 😂 So when spring comes around and we’re slowly being ushered into summer again, I am definitely going. Sometimes you just have to accept that everything cannot happen at once. Old Westbury Gardens will wait for me.
Decluttering & Discovering Vinted
Something that sounds small but genuinely made me happy: I decluttered. Properly. I went through my things and pulled out everything I no longer wear or want, and instead of just donating it all to a thrift shop (where they sell it and keep the profit), I discovered an app called Vinted — where you can sell your pre-loved clothes, shoes, and accessories directly to someone who actually wants them.
I had a pair of shoes I bought and only wore once. Really pretty, just not for me anymore. The idea that they could find a new home, go to someone who’ll love them, and I get a little something back in return? That works for me. You’re probably not getting back what you paid, but it’s better than nothing, and it’s a much more environmentally conscious option than trashing things. I’m genuinely here for it and will be keeping this up.
And Then… The Semester Started
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The semester started. Oh my goodness. If you have been following my PhD journey, you already know that funding has been a recurring theme. My advisor doesn’t have funding this year, so I needed another source of support. And that is where my TA position comes in. I am currently a TA for two courses or technically one course, but the professor teaches it across four different days for CSE and ISE.
And the expectations are… a lot. The professor teaches Monday through Thursday, and the expectation is that TAs are physically present for all four days. Now, let me clarify something because I don’t want this to sound like I’m complaining about working. The issue isn’t the number of hours. As a TA, I’m expected to work 20 hours a week, and that’s completely reasonable.
My issue is the expectation of being physically present every single day the class meets. I’ve taken almost ten courses at Stony Brook, and I can confidently say that the only course where I physically attended every single class was Machine Learning.
And even as a TA, my previous experiences haven’t required me to sit in every class meeting throughout the week. Of course, every professor and every course is different. I understand that. This particular course has in-class group discussions, a no-phone policy, and activities where the TAs are expected to help facilitate and make sure students are engaged. So I understand why the professor wants us there. It’s just… a lot.
Especially when you’re also a PhD student with research, papers, meetings, and your own academic responsibilities. But here’s the thing: I am grateful for the position. If my advisor doesn’t have funding and I didn’t have this TA opportunity, I genuinely don’t know how I would survive this semester.
So while I’m adjusting to the expectations, I’m also very grateful that the opportunity exists.
Rearranging My Life
The biggest adjustment has actually been my schedule. I prefer working out in the mornings. That has always worked well for me. But now I have one class at 9:30 AM and two other classes in the evening around 6:30 PM. So suddenly, the routine I’ve carefully built for myself has to move around. Monday and Thursday used to be my days off.
Now it looks like Tuesday and Thursday might have to become my rest days. My workouts have to move. My research schedule has to move. My personal time has to move. Basically, everything has to be shuffled around. And I think that’s why the first week felt so overwhelming.
It wasn’t necessarily that I couldn’t handle the responsibilities. It was that I had a routine that worked for me, and suddenly I had to build a completely new one. But after surviving the first week, I feel like I have a better idea of what the semester is going to look like. And that’s comforting. Sometimes you just need to live through the first week of something before you can figure out how to navigate it.
Slowly Being Ushered Into Fall
And somehow, while all of this is happening, I can feel summer slowly disappearing. The days feel a little different. The atmosphere is changing. The weather is evolving. The leaves aren’t changing color yet, but some of them are beginning to fall. And I remember thinking one day while I was driving: Oh… we’re slowly and progressively being ushered into fall.
It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s very subtle. But it’s happening. And if you know me, you know fall is my favorite season. So I’m not exactly complaining. Bring on the cool weather, the changing leaves, cozy clothes, books, warm drinks, and all the beautiful colors. I am ready.
What I’m Reading
One of the things I hope to continue making time for this semester is reading. Right now, I’m reading some incredibly interesting books, including Plato’s Apology and Søren Kierkegaard’s The Discourse on God and Man. I’m also juggling another book or two because apparently I have no sense of self-control when it comes to books. 😂 But that’s something I genuinely want to preserve even when school gets busy. A quiet evening. A good book. Something warm to drink. A little peace. Those small things matter.
What I have read so far this year
And yes, I am an EPUB girlie! An end of year recap is underway at the end of December, and hopefully I would would read at least 30 books
It’s a Wrap
August came and went much faster than I expected. Looking back, I’m grateful. And now, somehow, we’re already approaching fall. Grateful for the experiences. Grateful for the challenges. Grateful for the opportunities. And most importantly, grateful for life.
I don’t have anything particularly profound to say this month. Sometimes a month is just a month. And maybe that’s enough.
So if you’ve made it to the end, thank you for sticking around. Take care of yourself. Tell your friends you love them.
Read a good book. Get comfortable. Drink some warm cider. Put on something cozy. And enjoy the little things. Because before we know it, the leaves will be changing, the air will be colder, and fall will be here. And I, for one, cannot wait.
Love you. ❤️
See you in September.
