A Day of Frustration and Small Wins

The day started with a meeting I thought would be quick, just about the student assistantship program. But, as meetings often do, it expanded into a long discussion about various matters. I sat through it, mentally ticking off the things I needed to accomplish, yet feeling stuck. What made it worse was the silence—no updates from my staff, no progress reports on the tasks I had delegated, and still nothing concrete for the February 21 event. The lack of movement weighed heavily on me.

As the hours passed, frustration became my constant companion.

In the afternoon, I held another programming class with the same students. This time, it was a laboratory session, and to my relief, everyone was much more active. There was a different energy when they had their hands on the keyboard, solving problems and writing code. For a brief moment, I felt lighter—until I noticed some of them simply copying their classmates’ work.

That familiar feeling of disappointment crept back in. It’s hard not to want every student to fully engage, to genuinely learn rather than just get by.

As evening came, I found myself drained and uninspired. I knew I should be preparing for tomorrow’s class, but laziness took over. Instead of being productive, I lost myself in unnecessary tasks, avoiding the work that mattered.

Yet, here I am, writing this—because this is how I express what I can’t say out loud. I have no one to share this weight with, so I let it out here.

To anyone reading this who feels the same—burned out, unheard, and overwhelmed—know that you’re not alone.

Let’s remind ourselves that even small wins, like an engaged class or a moment of creative expression, count. And tomorrow is another day to try again.