Skip to main content

Three-year cycle

Good things come in threes. Or not. And I'm nearing the end of another cycle. The thing is, I'm not really sure what to do after this. Some people are giving me suggestions. But ultimately, I'm the one who decides. It felt like the period of resigning from teaching where everything was so slow and bureaucratic and I was so done with it but I had to go through the motions. The paperwork. And it's the same exact thing. I want so much to move on and maybe do something else but I have paperwork to hand in. Interestingly this paperwork is the step towards getting a PhD. But somehow, knowing this, doesn't motivate me. I'm pacing myself. Slowly. Too slow for my liking. I don't want to burn out. Perhaps money will motivate me? I really don't know. Maybe convenience? The things money can buy? I had a taste of it. It did kind of feel good. But I'm not going to kill myself just to get it. It's a nice thing to have. But it's not everything. I want to live! I want freedom. Or some semblance of it. I want to connect, I guess. But with whom? The PhD journey has been isolating. I made it that way, I admit. Because I'm easily distracted. 

It all comes back to my lack of commitment. What do I really want at the end of this? I'm faced with the same question that I had when I decided to quit my job and enroll in this program. And then what? Collect the perks? Have a cushy job? Somehow I want to try a new thing. Which makes me nervous. And some people may not like it. But this is my life. I decide!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

This is the greatest love story ever told (and still being written). And I’m living in it! Since this blog has been instrumental in making it happen, it’s only fitting that I post it here. And so when people (me included) think it happened so fast, it’s actually years in the making. Having this blog fast tracked the “getting to know” stage. At least, that’s the logical part of me talking. But love is rarely logical.  How it started A day after final exams for the summer term of AY 2023-2024, I received a bunch of anonymous emails. At first, I shrugged it off as a newsletter that I signed up to. A couple emails later, it became clear that it came from one of my former students. Didn’t know it was her until August 2nd. Realized feelings were mutual the day after. Made the relationship official on August 7th. I was the one who asked because “she didn’t wanna cross the line”.  I used to say, in this blog , that I’m only interested in how couples get together, not really what’s ...

Dream high: My ideal dissertation topic

I want my study to be foundational . Something I and others can stand on. Seminal, I would say. I don't want it to just be a dissertation. Something you write and then forget. I want it to inspire me and others. The second criteria that I want is interdisciplinarity. It has to draw on two or more fields--not just mathematics. Something people outside math can appreciate. The T-shaped model comes to mind. The generalist-specialist. Source:  Why T-shaped people? by Jason Yip I know it's a pipe dream. But if I have to dream, why not dream high, right? But I have to be careful that it doesn't stop me from even starting. I should not let perfectionism hinder me from exploring.

Happy new year!

I'm done with the dissertation. I sent it to my adviser and I'm just waiting for his feedback. This past month has been tough. I realized that I couldn't make it to the deadline. I could not graduate this semester. My break was not fun. It was no break at all. But it's over now. And strangely, I don't know what to do with myself. What do I do with my free time? Guess I gotta find a job soon.