my laptop's "n" key is significantly more faded than other keys. i don't think i really use it more than other keys. is it less hardy than other keys ...?

I have turned in my last papers, returned my last 40 books to the library, and celebrated at a TUEGS bonanza. VICTORY.
Further, it has been precisely four months since my traumatic move to Philadelphia.  I have lived in Pennsylvania for 123 days (and have yet to meet into Steve Carrell, weirdly).
I must have learned something. Behold, the lessons ye are about to receive, ever-Constant Reader.

A Leadership Self-Assessment, found on a random business website 

(inspired by Diana) Edited by me.

• [Graduate Student] Attributes ...
• Do I view problems as opportunities?
• The major problems this semester: overloading on credits. No financial aid (thanks, economy!). Living by myself in a huge, terrifying city.  Tackling graduate school alone.  Sudden panic at the prospect of joblessness next year.  Constant self-doubt buffeted by incessant defense of life plan.  
• Problems? Yes.  But are they ... opportunities?
• FO SHO!: everyone loves a good rags-to-riches story.  This is America!  Land of probl delusions of opportunities!
• Am I a priority setter?
• If by "priority" you mean "learn to budget like a crazy-person," then maybe.  If you mean "cram frantic paper-writing/speed-reading around bouts of drinking and graduate-student tomfoolery" then yes.
• Am I courageous?
• I prefer "obstinate."
  
• Am I a critical/creative thinker?
• I'd rather not relive V's class here; this is a happy place.
• But in the spring I am taking a class with Rachel DuPlessis on "Virginia Woolf: Poetic Prose;" the course requirements are a 15-page critical paper on writing (?) and a 15-page creative essay (!)
• So let's hope together, you guys.
  
• What is my tolerance for ambiguity?
• You mean V's emails? Or Miller's assignments? Or O'Hara's classes? Or J's "check mark" grading system?
• ZERO. I HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY.
• Do I have a positive attitude towards change?
• Please.
• [Graduate Student] Skills ...
• Do I debate, enunciate, and clarify my values and beliefs?
• According to V: absolutely not. According to O: absolutely.
• Only my GPA will tell.
• I do so love to/am great at gossip, so if that counts.  Especially about people, things, places, and politics. Also people in politics.
  
• Do I ask the big-picture questions, including "what if?"
• What if we never landed on the moon?
• What if the Manhattan Project had failed?
• What if this is the post-nuclear alternate universe?
• What if there's life in a neighboring solar system, and we find it?
• What if the Internet collapsed tomorrow? 
• What if everyone dedicated ten hours a year to community service?
• What if the poverty/affluence gap began shrinking?
• What if my future-bestselling-series is adapted to a four-movie-saga. I'm sorry, when it is.
  
• Do I encourage dreaming and thinking the unthinkable?
• In my head I live on the LOST island.  Next please.
• Can I align the budget, planning, policies and instructional programs with the district goals and vision?
• That was the rabid, delusional thought behind "I'll do it in a year! A YEAR!"
• So maybe.  Yes if on January 21 I am handed a salaried, benis-full 24-month contract offer.
• And if I pass the French exam.  Fluency, baby.
• Do I practice and plan conscious abandonment? 
• What the hell is that?
• Does that mean fantasy and/or role-play?  Yes. I fantasize about my impending fame like six days a week.
• And also LOST. Um, Sawyer. Don't judge me: he's so well-read for a down-home Georgia boy killing machine.
  
• "Business" seriously makes no sense.
• [Graduate Student] Knowledge ...
• Do I know board roles and responsibilities in planning and implementing plans?
• As I comprise the board, this answer is pretty clear:
• NO.  I am making this up as I go along.
• WOOO PARTY
• Do I know the board and district vision, beliefs, and mission? 
• Sometimes.  People think it's cute that I have dreams and starry eyes and "want to help people," which is occasionally in itself enough to lose confidence.
• But then I remember those people can suck it. For I am AWESOME.  (I'm looking at YOU, SENSIBLENESS)
• What trait are you trying to make more descriptive of you?
• Listen, CorpAmer.  Employ English majors to clean up your basic communication skillz.  It's sad for you plus we need jobs.
• I choose confident.  This, I think, has been the tenuous theme of Fall 09.  I waffle between being giddily excited about my life to utterly devastated about the choices I've made
• Thus I'd like to be much more confident.
• Also "sexy."  And "Jim Halpert's life coach."
• I'm planning a trip to Scranton over winter break and you should come. I need help getting just the right picture to Photoshop myself into Dunder Mifflin's family/office park.
• You guys, you can't live in Pennsylvania and NOT go to Scranton. Don't look at me like that.

Cheers to life, love, and blogging, you guys.  I miss you.