As some of you know, I recently quit a Ph.D. program after toiling in misery for 6+ years. I've been meaning to write a series of posts about this, but I don't think I'm quite ready yet.
Ohhh I hear you. I'm an attorney who no longer wants to be that after two years of practicing (but still has the law school loans). Have you seen this video (you're a JD also aren't you?):
@ A Long Far View: I did see the atty one too; I was just thinking about whether to send that to the rafts of students I have coming to me for law school recs, all of whom want to work on constitutional law. ;-)
@ lavenderpug: Perhaps we should all quit our jobs and open cupcake bakeries.
I didn't know, but I would be very interested to hear more when you feel ready, as I am stuck in a similar situation and worrying what to do. Good luck to do !
I'd also be really interested in hearing about your experience when you're ready. I left academia as well and it's a hard thing to talk about with people who haven't been in that situation.
I am sure that it was a very hard thing for you to do. I have always been in awe of Phd. students because it take a level of self-motivation that I am not sure that I have. I LOVE the attorney one. I'm still transitioning out of law now and it's taking me awhile. I can't really bake, so the cupcake bakery is out of reach for me. :( I wish I had a marketable skill that I liked :)
I quit my PhD program after 4 years. It is such a hard decision and sometimes I still find myself questioning it. But I am fairly certain it is for the best, since I no longer want to be a professor.
However.. the hard thing for me is that I still am working on figuring out exactly what I *do* want to do with my life. I'm currently still working for my old advisor since the economy's been horrible and I couldn't find another job... not ideal! I've considered the cupcake bakery thing many times, myself :)
@ melinda: I know! So many people said (and still say to me): "You're so close, why don't you just finish the dissertation?" And I'm at a total loss to explain why even though I only had 3 more chapters to write, those 3 chapters were inconquerable.
@ Terri: You, my friend, are full of marketable talents! Though I know that sometimes what's hardest is to winnow down which talents to market out of all the possibilities . . . .
@ Eileen: I'm in the same boat! I've been doing some consulting, but it feels a bit lost to have no "real" professional identity.
Oh my dear I'm so sorry! I would love to hear your story when you are ready.
Last fall, I started a PhD program, but then resigned after one semester. Obviously, I didn't spend as much time working on the program as you did, but it seriously broke my heart to do it. I felt like I was admitting failure...so so quickly! However, once I was in the program I realized that it wasn't something I was going to be happy doing for 6 years on the way to the degree. Justin never saw me because of all the work I was doing, I was constantly stressed out because I wasn't provided with any kind of mentor/someone to guide me, and Justin and I really didn't mesh well with the town the school was in (in the middle of nowhere). In the end, I decided that our happiness and our marriage were more important to me than the degree, and we moved back to FL, where I am now unemployed (yikes). However, I am so so so much happier.
Anyway, good luck to you with what you decide to pursue...I hope you are happy and at peace with your decision!
I say good for you for having the guts to do what was best for you. It doesn't make sense to chase after something you don't really want.
I've got a bachelors plus a license and five years of experience in accounting (4 different jobs in 5 years). Sometimes people make fun of my constant job change like it's a joke, but it sort of hurts my feelings a lot. I kept telling myself it was the environment, however, I'm starting to realize the problem is the profession itself. I hope I have the strength to do as you have...
@ Katie: I know it must have been a tough decision, but you were so smart to get out early. What was the program in?
@ The Bride Concierge: I totally hear you -- though I'd imagine it'd be even more difficult to leave a paying job than it would be to leave a barely paying Ph.D. I often wonder whether our generation would be happier if we were a bit more like previous generations, who saw jobs as just jobs -- not identities or vehicles for self-fulfilment?
I spend the past 2 days at a workshop about career planning. I think it is really important to remember that we plan our career and our live _ourselves_, noone else. It was very helpful for me to get a clearer view of my wishes, dreams strengths, needs...
I was in an Industrial/Organizational Psychology program. Sad...because I am intrigued with the field...oh well! Life has a way of working out for the best I think!
oh my... I'm with you about not knowing to laugh or cry. It's so sadly true. I'd love to hear your story when you're ready to tell it. I got through, but it feels like this world just never gets very good.
Ohhh I hear you. I'm an attorney who no longer wants to be that after two years of practicing (but still has the law school loans). Have you seen this video (you're a JD also aren't you?):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvARy0lBLE
oh man. that was hilarious. i saw the attorney one also. oh what am i going to do with my life.
ReplyDelete@ A Long Far View: I did see the atty one too; I was just thinking about whether to send that to the rafts of students I have coming to me for law school recs, all of whom want to work on constitutional law. ;-)
ReplyDelete@ lavenderpug: Perhaps we should all quit our jobs and open cupcake bakeries.
I didn't know, but I would be very interested to hear more when you feel ready, as I am stuck in a similar situation and worrying what to do. Good luck to do !
ReplyDeleteI'd also be really interested in hearing about your experience when you're ready. I left academia as well and it's a hard thing to talk about with people who haven't been in that situation.
ReplyDeleteHey there!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that it was a very hard thing for you to do. I have always been in awe of Phd. students because it take a level of self-motivation that I am not sure that I have. I LOVE the attorney one. I'm still transitioning out of law now and it's taking me awhile. I can't really bake, so the cupcake bakery is out of reach for me. :( I wish I had a marketable skill that I liked :)
I quit my PhD program after 4 years. It is such a hard decision and sometimes I still find myself questioning it. But I am fairly certain it is for the best, since I no longer want to be a professor.
ReplyDeleteHowever.. the hard thing for me is that I still am working on figuring out exactly what I *do* want to do with my life. I'm currently still working for my old advisor since the economy's been horrible and I couldn't find another job... not ideal! I've considered the cupcake bakery thing many times, myself :)
@ Busylizzy: I empathize. What's your program in?
ReplyDelete@ melinda: I know! So many people said (and still say to me): "You're so close, why don't you just finish the dissertation?" And I'm at a total loss to explain why even though I only had 3 more chapters to write, those 3 chapters were inconquerable.
@ Terri: You, my friend, are full of marketable talents! Though I know that sometimes what's hardest is to winnow down which talents to market out of all the possibilities . . . .
@ Eileen: I'm in the same boat! I've been doing some consulting, but it feels a bit lost to have no "real" professional identity.
Oh my dear I'm so sorry! I would love to hear your story when you are ready.
ReplyDeleteLast fall, I started a PhD program, but then resigned after one semester. Obviously, I didn't spend as much time working on the program as you did, but it seriously broke my heart to do it. I felt like I was admitting failure...so so quickly! However, once I was in the program I realized that it wasn't something I was going to be happy doing for 6 years on the way to the degree. Justin never saw me because of all the work I was doing, I was constantly stressed out because I wasn't provided with any kind of mentor/someone to guide me, and Justin and I really didn't mesh well with the town the school was in (in the middle of nowhere). In the end, I decided that our happiness and our marriage were more important to me than the degree, and we moved back to FL, where I am now unemployed (yikes). However, I am so so so much happier.
Anyway, good luck to you with what you decide to pursue...I hope you are happy and at peace with your decision!
I say good for you for having the guts to do what was best for you. It doesn't make sense to chase after something you don't really want.
ReplyDeleteI've got a bachelors plus a license and five years of experience in accounting (4 different jobs in 5 years). Sometimes people make fun of my constant job change like it's a joke, but it sort of hurts my feelings a lot. I kept telling myself it was the environment, however, I'm starting to realize the problem is the profession itself. I hope I have the strength to do as you have...
@ Katie: I know it must have been a tough decision, but you were so smart to get out early. What was the program in?
ReplyDelete@ The Bride Concierge: I totally hear you -- though I'd imagine it'd be even more difficult to leave a paying job than it would be to leave a barely paying Ph.D. I often wonder whether our generation would be happier if we were a bit more like previous generations, who saw jobs as just jobs -- not identities or vehicles for self-fulfilment?
@Mrs. HC: I am in genetics...
ReplyDeleteI spend the past 2 days at a workshop about career planning. I think it is really important to remember that we plan our career and our live _ourselves_, noone else. It was very helpful for me to get a clearer view of my wishes, dreams strengths, needs...
All the best to all of us!
I was in an Industrial/Organizational Psychology program. Sad...because I am intrigued with the field...oh well! Life has a way of working out for the best I think!
ReplyDeletehahahahaahahah I love it!!
ReplyDeleteoh my... I'm with you about not knowing to laugh or cry. It's so sadly true. I'd love to hear your story when you're ready to tell it. I got through, but it feels like this world just never gets very good.
ReplyDelete