This is a question that many people ask me. And one that I ask myself, in those wee hours of the morning when I am trying to finish writing a paper before a deadline.
(I'm sure you're wondering what the Heath Photos at the top has got to do with any of this. No I'm not a crazy fan. Well. I am. Just not crazy. not that much. Anyway I'll get to that at the end)
I know that some people do a PhD just for the sake of doing it - as in a pay raise or a promotion in the academical career. But in my case I did not even have an academical career, being employed in the industry for more than 2 years before I started on my doctorate.
So why? Well, I got bored in the industry. And I wanted to do research. To have a career as a 'Researcher', you need to prove to your prospective employers that:
a) you are capable of spending months tackling an interesting yet difficult problem
b) you have patience and perseverance to learn from failures
c) you're disciplined and focused enough to work hard even when the target is pretty abstract
d) you are not afraid to stand your ground when confronted with criticism on your idea, while at the same time, open to take feedback as well
e) and, last but not least, you enjoy problem solving.
Now, I'm not an expert on PhDs, seeing as I am yet to earn one, but I think e) is pretty important. IMHO pursuing a PhD just because it's a good career move is not such a good idea, if you don't get to enjoy the ride. That being said, I'm in no way saying a PhD is a joy ride! In fact, people who have completed say that it was probably the hardest thing they did.
What I am trying to imply is that, you should be passionate about what you do. The problem that you're trying to solve should make you excited, not make you yawn.
Seriousness aside, here's a funny story when I seriously wondered why the hell am I doing a PhD:
I was walking to uni while talking on the phone in Sinhalese with a friend, and there was this guy walking beside me who looked as though he could have been what Heath Ledger looked like when he was 20 (*sigh).
So after I finish the convo, the guy asks "Hey could you tell me what language you were speaking there?"
Me : "Sinhalese"
So why? Well, I got bored in the industry. And I wanted to do research. To have a career as a 'Researcher', you need to prove to your prospective employers that:
a) you are capable of spending months tackling an interesting yet difficult problem
b) you have patience and perseverance to learn from failures
c) you're disciplined and focused enough to work hard even when the target is pretty abstract
d) you are not afraid to stand your ground when confronted with criticism on your idea, while at the same time, open to take feedback as well
e) and, last but not least, you enjoy problem solving.
Now, I'm not an expert on PhDs, seeing as I am yet to earn one, but I think e) is pretty important. IMHO pursuing a PhD just because it's a good career move is not such a good idea, if you don't get to enjoy the ride. That being said, I'm in no way saying a PhD is a joy ride! In fact, people who have completed say that it was probably the hardest thing they did.
What I am trying to imply is that, you should be passionate about what you do. The problem that you're trying to solve should make you excited, not make you yawn.
Seriousness aside, here's a funny story when I seriously wondered why the hell am I doing a PhD:
I was walking to uni while talking on the phone in Sinhalese with a friend, and there was this guy walking beside me who looked as though he could have been what Heath Ledger looked like when he was 20 (*sigh).
So after I finish the convo, the guy asks "Hey could you tell me what language you were speaking there?"
Me : "Sinhalese"
Heath Ledger Lookalike : "Oh wow. I thought it was Indonesian"
Me : "Um...Its spoken in Sri Lanka"
HLL : "Oh yeah. Isn't that funny! So are you an exchange student?"
Me : "No I'm doing my PhD. What about you?"
HLL : "Aw. I'm in my first year. Undergrad"
Me : "Aww... you're a baby!"
HLL: "Yeah.. oh well PhD...you're out of my league"
*Sigh. *Cringe
Definitely a drawback of doing a PhD....
Me : "Um...Its spoken in Sri Lanka"
HLL : "Oh yeah. Isn't that funny! So are you an exchange student?"
Me : "No I'm doing my PhD. What about you?"
HLL : "Aw. I'm in my first year. Undergrad"
Me : "Aww... you're a baby!"
HLL: "Yeah.. oh well PhD...you're out of my league"
*Sigh. *Cringe
Definitely a drawback of doing a PhD....
Anyway RIP Heath.
I think you are quite right about the motives for doing a PhD.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could have offered to tutor the first year student?
I faced a dilemma two three weeks ago whether to follow an academic path or go to the industry. I've almost finished my degree, writing the final year thesis right now.
ReplyDeleteI want to do a PhD because I don't want to stop here in learning. After all, I stayed behind for the extra fourth year not for fun (proven fact: fourth year is not fun at all). But alas, academics is not the path for me. I'm gonna take the industry detour.
@JackPoint
ReplyDeleteLOL. Tutoring IS a good idea... unfortunately that doesn't change the whopping age gap :P I'd feel like a child molester!
@පිටස්තරයා
Well...a PhD doesn't necessarily mean an academic career IMHO. In my case I wanted to do research - and lets face it, there really aren't that much research being done in SL IT industry are there?
In any case, I do think you need to go out to the industry and get exposed to the 'real world' even for some time. Besides, after 4 years of studying, industry can be a breath of fresh air! (think Money money money :D )
Wish you all the best bro!