Pursuing Degrees During WWIII
An exaggeration? Maybe. But you can’t deny things are shitty right now.
Welcome to your weekly encouragement note!
Academic advisors are rarely able to provide the level of support students need, and that’s why so many graduate students struggle.
As your alt advisor, our work together is my top priority! We’ll develop personalized strategies and systems of support so you can make progress at your own pace even when your advisor is no help!
It may feel pointless to keep reading journal articles, attending classes, and pursuing your graduate degree while US tax dollars are killing people within and beyond the country.
I get it. Things are terrible right now. Have been for a while. I was in my second semester of my PhD when the COVID-19 pandemic started. Two months later, George Floyd was murdered. Meanwhile hate crimes that targeted Asian Americans rose because we were blamed for the onset of the coronavirus.
Why did I keep pursuing my PhD? Why should you keep going with your graduate journey?
Because the future is unpredictable.
You can’t predict a pandemic. You can’t predict misery. But you also can’t predict joy. You can’t predict that K-Pop Demon Hunters would take the world by storm and suddenly you’ve replayed What It Sounds Like day after day. You can’t predict that Kendrick Lamar or Bad Bunny would perform at the Super Bowl. You can’t predict that Alysa Liu would come out of retirement, setting her eyes only on joy and passion, and win gold in figure skating at the Winter Olympics. You can’t predict that Viola Davis would be the one to announce Michael B. Jordan for Best Actor at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards.
There is room for both grief and hope to coexist.
And guess what? There is one thing that you can predict. You will graduate.
Imagine yourself in your graduation regalia. Decked out in your gown, cap or tam, hood, tassel, and maybe a stole or two.
You will get there. As to the possibilities of how you’ll get there? And the miseries and joys that will come along the degree journey and after you graduate? Well, aren’t you just a tiny bit curious to see how things play out? Keep going. I believe in you.
Checking in with y’all, how are you doing? Let me know in the comments!