Ever wonder what a PhD student actually does all day? In this Doctoral Diaries week, I’m taking you with me through three real, unfiltered days as a first-year PhD student at the University of Toronto—aka me trying to keep it together while I’m sleepy and the workload is loud. This week is super coursework-heavy: I’m working through 400+ pages of readings, prepping for class, doing weekly assignments, and showing you what it looks like to actually get yourself to campus and participate when your brain is doing… its own thing. You’ll also come along for the “academia admin” side of life: fellowship meetings, journal club, and the kind of structured commitments that keep the week moving even when my focus is not cooperating (hi, ADHD). I also bring you into teaching mode—what it’s like to give a lecture and switch from student brain to instructor brain in the same week. If you’re thinking about grad school, already in it, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes reality, this vlog is basically a little reality check + a gentle reminder that progress can be messy and still count.