This week [2021], I'm toasting to a big win: passing my PhD Confirmation. It's been a full year of slogging through research, and now it's officially 'novel' and 'rigorous'. Sure, it might sound like a small victory, but for a PhD student working solo, without a clear sense of progress, it's a huge sigh of relief – the kind where you feel a weight lifting off your shoulders.
Confirmation is like climbing a significant step in the academic world. But for a serial overthinker like me, it's also a cue to pause and reflect. The real challenge isn't just about the intellectual heft of my work; it's about making sure my year-long grind amounts to more than just 300 pages of text.
Here's lesson #1 I've learned: Learning isn't just an intellectual exercise; it's an emotional journey. To truly learn, you've got to admit you don't know everything. That takes a blend of honesty, humility, and a bit of bravery.
Reflecting on this past year, one lesson really stands out. Being someone who thrives on clear logic and strong coherence, I've been challenged to accept less-than-satisfying answers to my complex questions. This leads to lesson #2: Don't be afraid of open-ended, abstract answers. Offering simple solutions to complex problems often strips away their richness. Easy answers are like those tempting chocolate bars at the checkout – they're appealing and convenient, but they're not the nutritious meal you need.
Scott Page (2021) summed it up well: Believing a single equation can explain complex phenomena is like being charmed by the simplicity of math, but real-world systems – like politics, the economy, or the brain – are intricate and unpredictable.
And here comes lesson #3: Embrace life's ambiguity and paradoxes, but don't be paralyzed by them. Believing in progress means being bold in the face of challenges. It's about empathy, about getting as worked up over injustices that don't directly affect us as we do over our own inconveniences. Are we frustrated because of our values, or just reacting to minor irritations?
So, here's my takeaway: I started this PhD thinking I'd unravel society's complexities, but I've learned that was a bit naive. Humility has shown me the vast intricacies of human nature. The more you learn, the more you realize what you don't know. And with that comes an evolving set of questions – better, more insightful ones. That's the real progress, and that's what keeps me going.
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