A
male
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I'm currently stressed out and confused about what I'm doing in life. I'm 8 or so weeks into my Masters in a biological science, and I don't know if this is where I should be.To cut a long story short, I've always been much more passionate about English than the sciences, but I ended up doing science prominently from my last year of high school (I actually quit two arts classes because I was having a bit of a mental breakdown at the time, and my English teacher that year was a total bully... I ended up doing a maths resit to make up for a mediocre grade instead) into university undergrad. I was never passionate about it, but I'm smart enough to follow much of it, and I worked as hard as I needed to to do well. Not great, but well. Anyway, I was offered a funded MSc this summer, and I took it. It's only one year, but already I've got to consider PhD (another three years, potentially four depending on the course).Now, it seems everyone expects me to do PhD if I can. My supervisor thinks it's a given that if I get offered one from him I should take it. And if it's a well funded one, it is guaranteed work in a bad market, and it is better than many of the alternatives... but right now I'm so stressed about if I have the disciple and the ability and the motivation to do it. I want to do something in the arts, if I'm being honest with myself, but now that my degree is in another field and breaks are very difficult to come by, I know it'd be likely that I'd just end up unemployed or having to shift into retail or something if I leave science. I just don't know what to do. Taking a year out is apparantly frowned upon.Does anyone have any advice about this?
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female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (29 November 2011):
 Go with the flow of things and see what happens. If your life is meant to be spent on "the arts" (maybe you could explain what exactly you mean by that?) then it will happen and the opportunities will arise. But I don't see how jumping from this rather predictable position and into a world of nothing concrete will cause LESS stress. It will only make you more stressed out. If you figure out exactly what you want to do and can see a future, with an income, and have some sort of lose plan for an alternative route, in arts if that be it, then go for it. But unless you have this other plan mapped out then I wouldn't tell you to go ahead. I mean, go ahead with what exactly? You sound confused and uncertain about what you'd want to do with this "art" as well, be that writing or other types of art, Im not really sure what you want. You don't know what you want. You just know that this, that you are currently doing, sounds scary, and you want to jump ship. Well I say, at least wait until you are out of muddy waters and can see what lies ahead if you jump the comfort of the ship.
And don't worry about discipline and ability or motivations to do what you are currently doing. Trust me, that motivation will be just as hard to come across when you do what you think you love. Because studying and making a living is hard work no matter what you chose to do. Whatever you study demand that you put effort into it, just because you choose something you think you might love doesn't mean it'll be a piece of pie. You lost out on things because of your bully of an English teacher, do you really think that catching up with university level English will be a breeze just because you kinda fancy it?
Study your hobby, English, in your past time, and spend your working hours finishing what you've already signed up for, and in my logic already have committed to. You don't have to go further than you want to, but you should at least finish what you started so you don't end up at point blank with a lot of wasted time. You can always study English later. Just because you educate yourself to one thing now doesn't mean that's what you need to do for the rest of your life. Right now you just need to do what fits your life right here and now. If something else is your passion you will find time and opportunities to pursue it later on. Don't jump until then.
A
female
reader, celtic_tiger +, writes (29 November 2011):
 Hi OP
I can totally understand how stressed and confused you feel at the moment. It is all rather scary and everything is being forced on you at once to make very important decisions.
I am currently about to submit my PhD thesis.
The Masters courses are always very intense, I think that was probably the hardest year of my life and it really gets to you and makes you question your direction, your ability and what you want from life.
I would say though, if you do have the skills and have got funding, then you should make use of it. There are so many graduates now, that a BA/Bsc is ten a penny in the real world. In may cases they mean nothing now, because everyone has one. To make yourself stand out from the crowd you have to go that extra mile.
With the current financial climate, personally I think you should grab the opportunity with both hands. If you let it go, there are probably dozens of people who would be willing to take it off your hands, and it is unlikely you would get the chance again once you are out in the world of work.
Many, many people with a PhD, do not end up working in the field that they did it in. BUT it can help you gain many skills that you could apply to other roles. As much as anything it is about application of yourself, ability to focus on a project, and self directed study. It is all about YOU. Not what other people are telling you.
The taking a year out thing - it is more that once you are earning and have stopped working in an "education" environment, it is very difficult to go back to that kind of mindset. Right now you are conditioned to learn, write, read, and absorb information. Going back after a year out to do a PhD would be very tough.
Right now, you are suffering from the MA/MSc jitters. It happens to everyone. You doubt your own abilities and are stressed out, and worrying. This is totally normal and I think everyone who has done a masters will be able to sympathise with you.
What is the harm in applying for the PhD - you could easily turn it down should you change your mind. BUT it is an amazing opportunity, and in the current climate, you could be furthering your job potential whilst in a secure working environment. It will open doors for you.
To work so hard with getting an Msc and then end up working in a shop... it seems such a waste. You are better than that! Do not sell yourself short.
Your tutors would not mention doing a PhD if they didn't think you were capable. That isn't what they are about. Each department has a reputation to produce quality research, so they must think you are good.
Have more faith in yourself. You are still very young, plenty of time to start worrying about future careers later. No one says what you study at Uni has to be your final destination. A case in point, my tutor trained in criminal law..... he is now a Professor in a completely unrelated subject :D
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