It's that time of the semester when essays deadlines are quickly approaching and it's just about all I can do to stay on top of the weekly assignments and reading. However, I do feel like I'm back on track after the selection conference and TISEC weekend earlier in the semester. Simply knowing what the shape of the next couple of years is going to be is a huge help, even if I know the pace is going to be somewhat frantic.
While it's busy, this semester isn't as crazy as last year. I still have four classes, but the teaching hours are fewer, and aside from weekly (unassessed) translations, I don't have any major assignments due for Greek. I also only have two essays. There's one more TISEC weekend, which unfortunately falls the weekend before exams start, but my exam schedule is such that this isn't the catastrophe it could have been.
Next semester, on the other hand, I'll have four essays and an extra hour of Greek each week, with more research work due for it. My classes are also more awkwardly placed throughout the week. There's a TISEC weekend relatively early in the semester which should be fine, but the second one falls during the time when most essays are due. The third one is during exams (but with a longer revision period second semester, it should be ok).
One of the TISEC requirements is a placement, traditionally done from Epiphany to Easter, and now is the time for me to be making some decisions about this - about where I want to go and when I want to do it. There is enough flexibility that I could potentially do it over the summer instead. I know that it's arranged so that there are about 4 contact hours a week, which honestly isn't much, but I am also aware that these 4 hours do not include preparation time (and I am also aware of how long it takes me to write a sermon, or even prayers). Right now I look ahead to next year and know that with the arrangement of New College courses and TISEC weekends, it's going to be busy. I'm not sure how I feel about adding a placement on top of it. I worry that I won't get as much out of it as I would if I were doing it during a time when I have less going on. The additional travel time into Edinburgh (because I'd almost certainly go to a church up there) is also an issue.
I appreciate that the period between Epiphany and Easter is very rich liturgically and it would be good to get a feel for what that is like to be more involved during that period. I know that if I go to a church in Edinburgh with a large student population or with lots of families, there will be a number of different activities I could get involved in. And I'm aware that if I do a placement in the summer, it will be quieter. But that might be good too, right?
I'm really torn on this, so I am opening it up to you, dear readers - particularly those of you who have experienced my madness during term time, those of you who know New College and those of you who have been through TISEC. What would your advice be?
