Road to PhD — Day #530: You are Getting There
So I actually wrote this note since September 2020. However, as study-related anxiety happened, COVID-19 worsened, and new video games came out, I was preoccupied and as a result, I kept on deferring its publication until now. I hope it can still serve as a reminder of the long and winding road that everyone may have at some point in their studies.
Happy reading!
“All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It’s the only way we grow”
- Padme Amidala to Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars Episode II — Attack of the Clones -
Day 530 (14 Sept 2020)
“Master Kenobi, here is the latest draft of Chapter 2 for the Explanatory Framework, as you instructed”, I said to my supervisor. Had been working on this part for nearly two months, back and forth, draft after draft after draft, I honestly hoped this would be the last one and I could move on to the next chapter.
“Hmm. Let me see”, Master Kenobi answered.
A few moments later…
“This part is unclear. I am not sure what you mean by this sentence. You should give more explanation about this argument. And this paragraph is not necessary. Instead, you should focus more on that part…etc etc etc,” Master Kenobi commented. “You know what to do. Rework again. You are getting there, Padawan.”
I sighed. Yet another rework?
“Master, I don’t mean to question your feedback. But I have been working on this chapter for around two months now. Are you sure I cannot just move on to the next chapter, and come back to this later?” I asked.
Master Kenobi looked at me deeply. In a flash, his eyes offered a glimpse of compassion, but as always, they quickly turned back to steely determination.
“Padawan, it is important for you to get this chapter right. It serves as a foundation to the other parts of your dissertation. If you don’t get this right, and if you don’t have solid understanding of it, it would be hard for you to substantiate the rest of your arguments down the line” Master Kenobi explained.
“But the other Padawans have moved on already, some of them are even already done with their interviews, and…”
“But the other Padawans do not have ME as their master, don’t they?”
“No, Master. I guess they don’t.”
“Padawan, I know this might be a frustrating time for you. But as I said, you are getting there. You are making progress. No need to compare yourself to the other Padawans, and you are actually not far behind them. In fact, you should be proud of yourself of what you have achieved given you do not have any political science background.”
“I…I understand, Master.”
“Remember, whenever you feel I am too demanding, it is only because I want my students to achieve the very best of their potential. And there is no shortcut to achieve that other than hard work. So don’t give up.”
“In that case, I thank you, Master. I hope you stay patient until I get there”
“Of course. It is my responsibility to guide you, and it is your responsibility to never stop trying.”
Alright then. Time to rename my draft file into ‘Something something NOT Final but Don’t give up.docx’ then. Back to work…
