3 Reasons Quitting My PhD Was The Best Decision Of My Life
TLDRIn this video, the speaker reflects on their decision to quit a PhD program in chemical and biomolecular engineering, which initially felt like a defeat but later turned out to be a pivotal moment for personal growth. They share three key reasons why leaving was beneficial: realizing the importance of breadth over depth in learning, avoiding being pushed into a PhD due to good grades without genuine passion, and escaping the mental health struggles often associated with academia. The speaker emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's life, pursuing passion, and making decisions that lead to happiness and fulfillment.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The speaker quit their PhD program in chemical and biomolecular engineering but still completed their master's degree.
- 🏆 Despite feeling like a failure at the time, the speaker is now thriving as a process engineer and bi-molecular engineer, and is grateful for the decision to leave the PhD program.
- 🤓 The speaker discusses the importance of understanding the difference between depth and breadth in learning, and realizes they are more suited to breadth learning.
- 🔬 The speaker admits they were pushed into considering a PhD by their professors based on good grades, without a true passion for the subject.
- 💡 The decision to leave the PhD program allowed the speaker to take control of their life and pursue what they truly love, leading to personal growth and satisfaction.
- 👩🏫 The speaker warns against the pressure that high-achieving students often face to pursue a PhD, emphasizing the importance of genuine passion for the field.
- 🧩 The speaker mentions feeling trapped and experiencing imposter syndrome and mental health issues during their time in the PhD program.
- 🚪 Leaving the PhD program was a liberating experience that allowed the speaker to escape a trapped feeling and improve their mental health.
- 🛠️ The speaker is currently working on creative projects, such as coding a computer to solve a riddle and building a LEGO coaster with a Peltier module to warm drinks.
- 📺 The speaker invites viewers to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more science and building content, hinting at upcoming projects and discussions.
Q & A
What was the speaker's field of study for their master's thesis?
-The speaker's field of study was chemical and biomolecular engineering.
Why did the speaker feel a sense of defeat despite obtaining their master's degree?
-The speaker felt a sense of defeat because they were quitting their intended PhD program at the same university.
What advice did the speaker's professor give them after quitting the PhD program?
-The professor advised the speaker to either find another lab to work in or exit the PhD program with their master's and look for a job.
What is the speaker's current occupation three years after leaving the PhD program?
-The speaker is currently a process engineer and bi-molecular engineer at a great company.
What are the three main reasons the speaker believes quitting their PhD was the best decision for them?
-The three main reasons are understanding the difference between depth and breadth of learning, feeling pushed into the PhD without passion, and dealing with imposter syndrome and mental health issues.
What does the speaker mean by 'depth learning'?
-Depth learning refers to the process of mastering a subject by becoming obsessive about its details and sticking with it for a long time.
What is 'breadth learning' as described by the speaker?
-Breadth learning is the love for learning about everything and being able to follow various inspirations wherever they lead, rather than focusing on one subject.
Why did the speaker feel they were pushed into pursuing a PhD?
-The speaker felt pushed into a PhD because they received good grades and their professors suggested it based on their academic performance, without considering their true passions.
What is the speaker's perspective on the relationship between good grades and the necessity to pursue a PhD?
-The speaker believes that good grades do not necessarily mean one should pursue a PhD, and that intelligence and creativity can be found in many people without a PhD.
What advice does the speaker give to those who might feel trapped in a PhD program?
-The speaker advises not to underestimate the power of taking control of one's life and leaving a situation that is not fulfilling or causing mental distress.
What projects is the speaker currently working on, as mentioned in the script?
-The speaker is working on coding a computer to solve a Brooklyn Nine-Nine riddle and building a coaster made of Legos with a Peltier module to keep drinks warm.
Outlines
🎓 Reflecting on the PhD Decision: A Personal Journey
The speaker, Michaela, discusses her experience of defending her master's thesis in chemical and biomolecular engineering and the subsequent decision to quit her PhD program. Despite the accomplishment of obtaining her master's, she felt a sense of defeat due to the decision to leave the PhD program. Her professor suggested finding another lab or exiting with a master's degree and seeking employment. Three years later, Michaela is a process engineer and expresses gratitude for leaving the PhD program. She plans to share her reasons for quitting her PhD and how it was beneficial for her personal and professional growth. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between depth and breadth in learning, and how her preference for breadth led to her decision to leave academia.
🔬 The Pressures and Realizations of Academia
In this paragraph, Michaela delves into the pressures she faced as a high-achieving STEM student and the common phenomenon of being pushed into graduate studies based on good grades and professor recommendations. She reflects on her decision to pursue a PhD without a clear passion for the field, leading to feelings of being trapped and the development of imposter syndrome. Michaela also discusses the mental health issues prevalent in graduate school and the empowerment she felt by choosing to leave the program. She encourages others not to fall into the trap of pursuing a PhD simply because they are intelligent or to feel inferior for not doing so. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for individuals to take control of their lives and pursue paths that align with their passions and mental well-being.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Master's Thesis
💡PhD Program
💡Process Engineer
💡Depth Learning
💡Breadth Learning
💡Imposter Syndrome
💡Mental Health
💡Creative Passion
💡Graduate School Pressure
💡Career Transition
Highlights
The speaker quit their PhD program in chemical and biomolecular engineering and felt it was a victory despite initial impressions of failure.
Three years post-quitting, the speaker is a process engineer and bi-molecular engineer, expressing gratitude for leaving the PhD program.
The speaker is currently working on various projects, including coding a computer to solve a Brooklyn Nine-Nine riddle and building a coaster to keep drinks warm.
The speaker outlines three reasons why quitting their PhD was beneficial for them.
The first reason is understanding the difference between depth and breadth in learning, with the speaker valuing breadth more.
The speaker explains that a PhD requires deep, long-term focus on a single subject, which they found unsuitable for their learning preferences.
The speaker admits to initially pursuing a PhD due to good grades and teacher recommendations, rather than genuine interest.
The second reason is the feeling of being pushed into a PhD without a clear passion or understanding of the commitment involved.
The speaker describes the common phenomenon of high-achieving students being encouraged to pursue a PhD based on grades alone.
The third reason is the alleviation of imposter syndrome and mental health issues that the speaker experienced during their PhD.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of not feeling trapped in an academic path and the empowerment of taking control of one's own life.
The speaker advises against pursuing a PhD simply because one is intelligent or pressured to do so, and to consider passion and personal fulfillment.
The speaker reflects on the mental health struggles common in academia and the importance of making decisions that align with one's well-being.
The speaker encourages viewers to take their life into their own hands and to make decisions that lead to happiness and fulfillment.
The speaker invites viewers to engage with the video by commenting, liking, and subscribing for more content on science and building projects.
The speaker teases upcoming projects, including a LEGO-built coaster with a Peltier module to heat drinks.
Transcripts
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