So after a recent chat to my best friend my mind is ever so slightly confused about my academic future.  But let me back up a bit and explain.

Much as I hate admitting it I’m one of those eternal students…I blame my father for this.  Ever since I can remember he has always been busy doing some course, diploma, or a couple of subjects towards some sort of degree.  It’s his thing and he enjoys it.  In many cases it doesn’t serve any purpose as he loves his job, he’s a teacher, and doesn’t plan on doing anything else…he loves teaching…and studying it would seem.  And now, as fate would have it, I’ve been bitten by the same bug.

I finished my degree and my honors degree full-time a couple of years ago.  I then proceeded to finish my articles for my chosen vocation and then I decided to do a Master’s degree.  It’s been a long hard road, but i completed the masters at the end of last year.  I’ve always promised myself a year off after that before I attempt to do any further studying…using the excuse that I need a year to rest and just have a social life.  (At this point I wish to ignore all my friends who tell me that I manage to have a pretty decent social life even while I was doing the master’s degree).

I’ve been playing with the idea of doing my PhD…in a year’s time.  So next year, and allowing me this year to just be and not have to worry about deadlines and studies and stuff.  Then, on sunday I was having a conversation with my best friend and my possible PhD popped up.  While talking to him I came up with the best topic for my PhD EVER! Nobody has ever considered it.  It is utterly unique.  So what does my best friend do? He encourages me to get going and start the PhD This year before somebody steals my idea.

I have to admit…his positive reaction really got me thinking.  This idea could work.  Thing is, a PhD is a LOT of work and I’m not entirely sure I’m ready for it just yet.  I mean, just to pitch my idea and get it approved I need to register and pay AND do the initial research for it.  Just pitching the idea is a lot of work already, and with job hunting and probably starting a new job soon I’m just not sure if I could handle it.  BUT I kind of really want to do this and I want to do it NOW.

So do you see what you have done to me silly academia??  I have a while longer before I either need to commit or not.  I’ll need to register and pitch by the end of May if I want to do it this year.   So I can spend another month mulling over it before i make a final call.  *sigh* Why do I do this to myself??

Regards

Ruby