Hi Travel Friends! A word on dissertating today…
HELP!
This thing is no joke! I’m SURE there are feats that are more difficult than writing a dissertation, but this whole process takes a toll.
It feels like there’s always something that you need to do: whether it’s respond to your advisor’s feedback, tweak that paragraph, read this article, and on and on.
As I’m sure many of you know already, it can be hard to keep your motivation going. There’s some days where I’m like, “I don’t want to even look at this latest draft!” And, to be honest, when I feel like that, it is REALLY hard to get writing.
Though taking a break and coming back to it definitely helps, sometimes I’m lucky if I’ll get a coherent sentence on the page.
A Journey, Indeed
I think one of the most difficult things about this journey, though, is the isolation. It feels like not many people understand why you can’t go out or why you’re stuck to your computer. Shoot, I’ve had people ask me directly: “Why would you sign yourself up for that torture?”
Most of the time I throw my hands up and say I don’t know.
Why did I sign up to do this?
Why does anyone voluntarily sign themselves up for this?
I don’t know about your reason, but for me, it boils down to a few things. First and foremost, it’s a part of my identity. I know I don’t need to get a Doctorate to learn and to call myself a learner, but doing so puts me in a position where I’m constantly being forced to learn. Though it can be challenging, this is a part of my identity that I embrace to the fullest extent. I love reading and writing, and thinking critically with the scholars, writers, and thinkers who have come before me.
Another reason I do it is to have a safety net. I’m very privileged and grateful to say that as long as I have a PhD, there will always be some job out there for me. Will it be my dream job? Maybe, maybe not; but there will be something, especially at a college or university.
Lastly, and this is probably not the best reason: I’ve already started it! I’ve quit a lot of things in my life and have looked back at those experiences with a tinge of regret. Whether or not this is healthy, I’m not sure. But I do know I don’t want to look back on this experience and be disappointed with myself, even on those days where it feels like it’s taking so much from me.
But those are my reasons.
What are yours? If you’re a current Doc student, what’s your “why”?
For those thinking about pursuing a Doctoral degree—I hope I haven’t discouraged you. But one thing that is very important is asking yourself what your reason is for pursing it in the first place? What do you think will keep you going on those days when you might want to throw in the towel?
Share your answer below!
Till Next Time Travel Friends!
