{"id":2529,"date":"2019-05-07T09:41:28","date_gmt":"2019-05-07T09:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/pursuing-a-phd-is-both-a-privilege-and-a-test-of-character\/"},"modified":"2025-01-15T06:35:21","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T06:35:21","slug":"pursuing-a-phd-is-both-a-privilege-and-a-test-of-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/pursuing-a-phd-is-both-a-privilege-and-a-test-of-character","title":{"rendered":"Pursuing a PhD is both a privilege and a test of character"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">&lt;&lt; WARNING: I OVERUSE LISTS. &gt;&gt;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Yesterday I was reading a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/qz.com\/547641\/theres-an-awful-cost-to-getting-a-phd-that-no-one-talks-about\/?utm_source=atlfb\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">blog post<\/a>\u00a0on the\u00a0<b>\u201cunspoken dark side\u201d<\/b>\u00a0of getting a PhD. In the article, the author shared his struggle during his post-graduate studies and described how academia is a hotspot for depression and poor mental health (based on scientific surveys).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">I fully agree that getting a PhD (or a Master\u2019s) can carry you down a road filled with tests and pitfalls. Indeed, the\u00a0possible issues during post-graduate studies are numerous:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type:square\">\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">STRESS<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Unsupportive\/absent adviser<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Minimal\/absent social interactions at work<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Uncertainty about the future<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Daily\/frequent\/obnoxious self-doubt<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Roller-coaster productivity\/motivation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Academic experience falling short of expectations<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">MORE STRESS<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">I did see\u00a0people not enjoying post-graduate studies and\u00a0I did\u00a0experience first hand some of the above.\u00a0<b>Indeed, my jaw blocked shut because I processed my stress grinding my teeth in my sleep.<\/b>\u00a0Pursuing post-graduate studies is definitely a test of how you address being stressed. However, I don\u2019t think we should\u00a0\u201caccept depression as part of the course\u201d\u00a0and I disagree with saying that there is a\u00a0psychological cost\u00a0to a PhD. You might as well just say there is a psychological cost to life; depression, isolation or struggle is not reserved to highly trained, brainy, isolated PhD candidates. You might lose someone close to you; fall ill to some terrible sickness; or just stop seeing the light in a perfectly balanced life. Such is the faith of humans; the brain equilibrium is probably our greatest Achilles\u2019 heel.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">I can\u2019t speak for all domains, but I thought we were forgetting a massive thing here: <b>Having the possibility of pursuing a PhD degree is a great PRIVILEGE\u00a0one should acknowledge and celebrate<\/b>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Default Alt text\" class=\"center\" data-file_info=\"%7B%22fid%22:%228117%22,%22view_mode%22:%22default%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22format%22:%22default%22,%22field_file_image_alt_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22Default%20Alt%20text%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22Default%20Title%20Text%22,%22field_image_tags%5Bund%5D%5Btextfield%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_image_tags%5Bund%5D%5Bvalue_field%5D%22:%22%5C%22%5C%22%5C%22%5C%22%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D\" src=\"http:\/\/insights.cactusglobal.com\/sites\/default\/files\/Image.jpg\" style=\"border-width: 3px; border-style: solid;\" title=\"Default Title Text\" \/><br \/><em>Art created by\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:vinaquero@gmail.com\">vinaquero@gmail.com<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vinaquero\/\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vinaquero\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\"><b>What should you celebrate?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type:square\">\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Work in a field or on a subject that you chose<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Realize yourself through your work<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Keep learning<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Make your own schedule<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Be in contact with curious, educated, informed human beings<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Have the opportunity to travel and meet people around the world<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Have easy access to further training<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Make a contribution to society, as tiny as it might be<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Be paid for all the above (at least in Biology)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">As I enter the last part of my post-graduate training, I realize the luck (which I also earned through hard work and discipline,\u00a0#earnednotgiven) I had in the last three years and how I enjoyed it. I also plan to keep remembering this every day until the defense, through good and bad days.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\"><b>Here is what I\u00a0am grateful for:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type:square\">\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">A great\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/kembellab.ca\/\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">adviser<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cef-cfr.ca\/index.php?n=Membres.ChristianMessier\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">co-adviser<\/a>\u00a0that complement each other well.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">An outstanding support system, both at home and with my family and friends.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">A\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cef-cfr.ca\/\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">research center<\/a>\u00a0that provides priceless professional services.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Healthy finances.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Loving what I do: learning, research, analyses, coding, teaching, EVERYTHING!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Being disciplined with a flexible schedule.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"tab-stops:list 36.0pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Sleeping easily, always.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">You\u2019re starting a Ph.D.? Here\u2019s some\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/isabellelaforestlapointe.wordpress.com\/2014\/10\/23\/my-actualized-version-of-stearns-huey-1987-some-modest-advice-to-graduate-students\/\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">advice.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Yes, sometimes I shiver contemplating\u00a0all the uncertainty my future holds. But then I remember the vastness of opportunity tomorrow offers me, and I feel electrified and thrilled.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0cm 0cm 10pt\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"line-height:115%\"><span style=\"font-family:Calibri,sans-serif\">Do you?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><i>Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe (<u><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Isabel_Laforest\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@Isabel_Laforest<\/a><\/u><\/i><i>) is a Postdoctoral fellow on maternity leave, post which she will start a position as Assistant Professor in January 2020 at the Universit\u00e9 de Sherbrooke. This story was published on November 13, 2015 on Dr. <\/i><i>Laforest-Lapointe\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/isabellelaforestlapointe.wordpress.com\/\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\">blog<\/a> (available<a href=\"https:\/\/isabellelaforestlapointe.wordpress.com\/2015\/11\/13\/lets-not-forget-pursuing-a-ph-d-is-both-a-privilege-and-a-test-of-character\/\" style=\"color:blue; text-decoration:underline\"> here<\/a>), and has been republished here with her permission.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&lt;&lt; WARNING: I OVERUSE LISTS. &gt;&gt;\u00a0 Yesterday I was reading a\u00a0blog post\u00a0on the\u00a0\u201cunspoken dark side\u201d\u00a0of getting a PhD. In the article, the author shared his struggle during his post-graduate studies and described how academia is a hotspot for depression and poor mental health (based on scientific surveys). I fully agree that getting a PhD (or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1428,"featured_media":33313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2414],"tags":[2666,2454],"new_categories":[],"new_tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-2529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiring-researcher-stories","tag-phd-life","tag-researcher-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pursuing a PhD is both a privilege and a test of character<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe is a Postdoctoral fellow on maternity leave, post which she will start a position as Assistant Professor in January 2020 at the Universit\u00e9 de Sherbrooke. 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