Why PhD?

There is this conversation I had with one of my relatives yesterday about his colleague expressing her need to study a PhD course but she lacks the funds to do it.

Then I asked: What are her reasons of pursuing the program?

With experience and trial and error process I went through, I learned if you don’t have a strong why or reason to pursue any kind of project you would stumble on the way and struggle to finish.

When I say strong why and reasons, I don’t mean external reasons. Your whys need to be internal inside you. Something inside that gives you passion, drive and meaning.

This often takes time. It is not like a quick and fix thing. It is a process that takes thoughtful reflection and contemplation to dive deep inside you.

Most interestingly, it is normal to experience a change in perspective. For example, before pursuing a PhD, your perspective was: I want to prove them wrong. I want to show them how good I am.

Then later after a time spent doing a PhD, your perspective changed to: I no longer care what others think of me. I no longer want to fit in. I no longer want to fake myself and my behaviors. I just want to be me, real, raw authentic and myself.

When you reflect on your perspective regularly, review them, observe and work with them piece by piece, you no longer can ignore them or pretend. They become the foundation pillars of your life. Yes the process is emotionally painful but the rewards are enormous.