Comments | mikeybill: Have I made a mistake?

mikeybill

Have I made a mistake?

Sep 30, 2010 09:43

That is the question I have been dealing with lately. And it's in regards to the whole PhD thing, and aiming for academia, and thinking about my future. Is this really what I want to be doing with my life ( Read more... )

Comments 7

bearginner September 29 2010, 21:06:06 UTC

Do you think this might be deeper than a "regular mid-PhD crisis"? i believe that everyone that has a bit of self-awareness go through this kind of questioning once in a while. i have been asking myself for years where i want my life to go and where i want to be when i turn 50, in just 4 years. i haven't got any answers yet but i am following some clues along the way.
i don't think there is truly an only answer for that. You can probably do a lot of different things and find fullfilment in all of them (and the inevitable dose of frustation too).
i think that, whatever you decide to do, just embrace it and don't think "what if i had done something else"? The best way to live life, regardless of how long you live, is probably to be fully engaged with it. Hugs.

mikeybill September 29 2010, 23:34:12 UTC

Thanks for the reply - I'm not sure what 's going on - if it's just a bad day, or a PhD crisis (again) or more

jawnbc September 29 2010, 23:42:24 UTC

Can you aim for "just fucking finish it?"

Crank out a complete draft and say "I'm done!" Wait for the requested corrections. Do exactly what's asked and say "OK I'm done!" If they ask for more changes say "actually I'm fried; if we can send this out for examination I think I have to walk away."

Nicely of course. PhD program completion rates are HUGE for any academic department--but especially arts and social sciences.

paulintoronto September 30 2010, 03:20:10 UTC

Because my partner is a professor, I've known many PhD candidates, often ones that he was supervising. They have all had periods of feeling the way you describe, without the added complications of hiv. It is clearly a tough slog. If it were easy, there'd be a lot more PhDs in the world.

What I've seen of you, on here and briefly in real life, makes me think that you are suited to the kind of work you are doing -- intelligent, curious, passionate and committed. I'm sure that you could find something else to do, but I'm less sure that doing so would solve your problem. The world will still be banal and bureaucratic and filled with stupidity, and you'll still be annoyed and disappointed by it. (Admittedly, perhaps with more money, of course.)

So, I hope that you overcome this moment of doubt and find the inspiration you need to keep on until the finish line.

pagerbear October 1 2010, 03:59:53 UTC

Stop whining and get back to work!

luvyameanit!

sunsmogseahorse October 4 2010, 14:33:33 UTC

I've been thinking: FINISH. Do it. DO IT.

mikeybill October 4 2010, 22:30:46 UTC

When are you leaving Yale? Which will come first? ;-)