Learning from all the positive comments and considering my own PhD five years back: undertaking this journey gives you the chance to structure your professional life, to be in control and less exposed to the will and acts of others. In a way you create your own universe. That's probably why it, though all the hard work and constant challenges, never really becomes a drudgery. The tough part is to re-enter the real world, where you are not in control and where your PhD does not make a great difference.
That is when it is important to have an inner conviction and satisfaction: I have accomplished something which cannot be taken a away from me. Even if others do not see it, I know that I have now more to give.
Kristina
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-----Original Message-----
From: Karen <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:20:48
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: PhD as drudgery
Dear all,
Small thoughts here.
Actually life challenges itself can be tougher than acquiring a PhD. To stay focused and not in drudgery, to survive well and progress despite all odds throughout a life filled with obstacles can be and should be seen as an accomplishment. I say this from my experience of seeing some of the finest humanists work with their lives in silence.
If one should find life after PhD a drudgery, then one should really start reassessing if the lessons learnt at college was worth the feat.
Provocation is neat. But to handle life woes with modest humility is better.
To solve it with original positivity is best. It means you have found a new way to research and study, and most importantly to live fully. To present with nothing other your raw name would be courage and confidence.
Cheers,
Karen Fu
On 25 Mar, 2012, at 4:57, teena clerke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> I am delighted to see the positive responses to my provocation.
>
> Speaking as a doctoral candidate 4 weeks away from submission, while the PhD has been intense, confusing, enlightening, humbling, frustrating, exciting and many other things besides, it has never, ever, not once, felt like drudgery.
>
> On the other hand, professional design practice, teaching, academic life in general, as well as family life have all, at times, felt like drudgery.
>
> My hope is that life after the PhD continues to not feel like drudgery. Happy studying for those in the middle!
>
> cheers, teena
>
>
> On 24/03/2012, at 9:06 AM, Mark Evans wrote:
>
>> Teena
>>
>> Speaking as a supervisor and examiner, PhDs pose a significant intellectual challenge and it’s quite possible that the lack of rigour and discipline experienced during an illustrious career outside of academia has failed to equip the candidate with the skills and knowledge required to undertake robust research. Or maybe they just picked a topic that failed to inspire them.
>>
>> Dr Mark Evans
>> Loughborough Design School
>>
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