Perhaps I’m too old to be in graduate school
February 15, 2007I’m attending the University of Louisville part time, working slowly towards an MS in Computer Science. It’s only my second semester and in fact only my second class, since I’m only taking one class per semester.
Last semester was the Intro to Database class. I’ve done a lot of database stuff for work but everything was learned on-the-job, no theoretical underpinnings. So I figured I’d start with that, and then this semester I’m taking the Advanced Database class.
The thing is, I’m having problem with all the papers we’re supposed to read for this class. They take me quite a while to plow through, I’m spending around 40 minutes to get thru a 12 to 15 page paper. And when I’m done I’m still not certain I understood what I just read.
It’s not that any of them are technically difficult, it’s just that I can’t seem to find the focus I need to read them and comprehend. I’ve been struggling for quite a while with my focus, which I am beginning to think is related to getting older.
It’s part and parcel with the fact that I’m not as patient as I used to be, I don’t have the ability to just sit quietly and read for extended periods of time. That’s why it takes so long to read one of these papers–I do it in fits and starts, in between I distract myself with music or browsing the Web or just staring off into space.
Oh well, I’m not going to give up yet. I’m not really paying for these classes anyway, they’re covered by my employer’s tuition reimbursement plan.