Sunday 4 September 2011

Are you finished YET?

Seriously, how is it SEPTEMBER already! Where has the year gone?? Before I know it, it will be Christmas. It also means that it is nearly the end of the 3rd year of my PhD. Which is weird. In the last couple of weeks quite a few people have started to ask me the dreaded question: "So when do you think you will be finished?". I had actually hoped I could dodge that question for at least a few more months. I understand people are just asking out of interest (which is nice of course), but this is what I hear when I get asked that: "you SHOULD be finished soon - so hurry up!"

It's easy at this point to think about how much I haven't accomplished in this time - mostly due to some unexpected delays in running experiments (seriously, sign up 1st year psych students - I need participants!). The truth is however, in this time I still have actually learnt a lot. Just this week, I gave a lecture for the 3rd year Psych course, I submitted a paper to a journal (which is in a lot better shape that the last time I tried to submit it somewhere I think), and I also updated my C.V. and realised how much experience I've gained at teaching and presenting at conferences. The thing that surprised me the most, is actually how confident I have become that I am able to do these things, and that what I have to say is important. It definitely is also easy to just focus on the experiment/thesis side of things; but if you do that, you forget that a PhD is much more than that - it's an apprenticeship to becoming an academic. 

So although, no, I'm not ready to finish up very soon (probably another year I think), I can still be quite pleased with how much I've grown this past year. That makes it just that little bit easier to not freak out at the 'dreaded question', and look forward to what is to come.

Even still, I think I might purchase this shirt just in case.

11 comments:

  1. "Are you done yet?" is almost as annoying as "How's it going?" I don't think anybody should mention the thesis at all ...
    Kelly xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm 1.5 years in now (or actually, just over 1.5 years) so when people point out I'm halfway through, I hear this weird implying tone in their voice. It's unlikely they actually are doing anything, unless you're Extreme Jeff - my final year engineering project supervisor - coz you're extreme and all.

    But for the rest of the world, I wish they made the following in sticky-note form. So everytime someone would ask, I would stick the following on their forehead. Except for Extreme Jeff where I would just squirm as I did a couple of months ago when I briefly caught up with him.

    http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=47

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ahhh. They just don't understand.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That shirt is perfect! Funny, and gets the point across. Never mention the thesis!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's like Voldemort...."that which shall not be named!"

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah, the questions people ask out of sincere interest, having no idea that being asked makes us want to stab ourselves :) good luck as you finish up!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey you're cruising! I am in my second undergrad because I changed my mind AFTER completing my honors degree in psych. At least you picked a subject& stuck with it ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hubster has about two weeks until he has to turn in his nearly 200-page dissertation... it's freak-out time. He's pretty much stopped talking, completely. I just kind of feed him and give him occasional pats on the head.

    Sounds like you're making lots of progress!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the post Lauren, I found it quite uplifting :) I think I can relate to every last detail.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the shirt! Thanks for the post! By the way, if you want something unique gift ideas, Ezi Gifts create affordable, exquisite and unique DIY gifts and party supplies suitable for any occasion or event. Order online now or call (02) 8786 1189!
    http://www.ezi-gifts.com.au/

    ReplyDelete

Hooray! Thanks for commenting :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...