Free Time

I talked to my advisor today about my exam. Well, really I told him yesterday about my score and he was on his way to a class of his. I totally understood that he needed to go, walked him to his class and said bye for the day. I needed his signature for a paper I had to turn into the Registrar's office and that was the original reason I went to see him.

Well, when I saw him today he said to he was sorry if I felt he had to rush because of his class and that he didn't really have a good response for the problem I posed to him. Just so everyone knows, when I say I got a bad score I am not talking about something in the 30th percentile or even the 20th percentile, it is worse than that. So you can imagine how depressed I feel about this considering that I have already sent off applications to 3 programs and had at least 9 on my list. The list will have to change in the near future because I do not want to paint myself into a corner by sending out applications and getting back only rejections.

So, when we talked about the options I had at this point, retaking the exam, getting a job, taking courses, etc., I mentioned that I had some free time and this is the jist of how the rest of the conversation goes:

Him - "Free time?"
Me - "Yeah, I have free time. I'm only taking 13 hours this semester."
"What do you mean free time? You have XYZ things* to do and you say you have free time?"
"Oh. Yeah. I see your point."
"Well, I guess I see why you think you have free time - because you are here talking to me. But you should be doing XYZ things instead so..."
"Yeah... I guess I'll talk to you later. I have to go do XYZ things."
"Yeah."
"Yeah."

There was more witty banter exchanged and then I left. So I'm still working with my schedule and trying to figure out what time I will use here and there for XYZ things. I have already scheduled practice time for piano in order to make sure I am ready for Jury (final piano recital) for this semester. Once I get enough stuff cleared off my plate, I will probably devote some time to reading journal articles and other miscellaneous things (also included: cleaning my room and doing laundry) that I have to do. I should also add calling my mom and dad in there... Ugh.

Free time, I thought I had some. I guess I don't.

*XYZ things represents all the things I have to do, including: apply for graduate school, read for my courses, work on topology, and other things.