Comments on: Pictures Of Things + Le Love List

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 11 May 2015 17:21:00 +0000

Hey there! I commented on this from my phone a while back, but I suppose it didn’t go through. Everyone makes great points about PhD land, so I’ll try not to be repetitive. Yes, it’s emotionally taxing and you have to love your field of study. Agree agree agree. I think another exercise that could be useful in the decision process is making a list of careers you could see yourself really wanting at the end and asking if a PhD is *really* necessary to do those things. Halfway through my first PhD field season, making that list and being able to say “Yes, all these career choices are made better/easier by having a PhD” really helped me get back on my horse (said horse had like, thrown me off and sat on my head, so I needed the boost). Also, you are so obviously smart enough to get a PhD, so don’t let that factor into the choice. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should or that you have to in my opinion. Anyway, just my two cents.

Good luck staring down the end of the spring quarter. Summer soon!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:16:00 +0000

You’re so right Roxanne, and you hit on pretty much all the points Im struggling with. Oi. It’s hard to know what to do!!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:15:00 +0000

Haha, thank you for this comment and I LOVE your Love List.

I’m terrified of the 7-Year Bullshit!!! =D

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:14:00 +0000

Thanks Sarah, but that’s defintitely one of the issues I’m up against. I love teaching biology, I love learning biology in a broad, fundamentals kind of way. But a science PhD means looking incredibly closely at one teeny tiny part of one specific system in one unique way, etc (I’m sure you know what I mean), and that, honestly, is like ZERO appealing for me. So the end result of the PhD – teaching and writing science = YES! But the process of getting it? I’m just not sure I have that “immerse in your passion” thing that you’re describing. And I’m not sure a person can stomach a PhD without that . . .

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:10:00 +0000

Wow, so much info and insight here Nicole! And so applicable to my situation and my potential path. Thank you thank you thank you!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:09:00 +0000

Thanks Shannon, luckily that’s one thing I’ve really got going for me here! The profs I’m close with in the dept are wonderful, and all of them are urging me to stay and keep going, which is so nice.

Thanks for the Love List! Yay for walking – that must have felt AMAZING!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:09:00 +0000

Thanks Sonja, and thanks for the lovely Love List! Also, strawberry cookie dough milkshakes sound A-MAZING. Wowza

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:07:00 +0000

Thank you so much for all your thoughts Rachel! It’s so much appreciated, though at this point I sort of feel more confused than ever, haha (NOT your fault at all, of course)

But yay for the Love List! I miss reading and the GOT books are definitely high on my list!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:05:00 +0000

Ditto Deirdre! To you too! (6 days late, whoopsie) ♥

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:04:00 +0000

No I get that – to go through that, and to achieve it – to EARN it – I get what you mean when you say “they can’t ever take that away”. It must be such a grounding, affirming feeling. It’s the ultimate accomplishment.

And very enticing, indeed! ;-)