Written by: Michele Marenus
Edited by: Mena Davidson, Olivia Pifer Alge, Christian Greenhill
Illustrated by: Jessica Li
My Ph.D. journey began in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving from the big, vibrant city of Boston on the East Coast to Ann Arbor, a small college town in the Midwest, was different from what I expected. Making friends in a new city is always hard, but COVID added an extra challenge that left me reeling. The loneliness that I felt taking classes, assisting undergraduates, and launching my own research in a 100% virtual environment was overwhelming at times. I strongly reconsidered my decision to pursue a doctorate. Why am I living far away from my loved ones for a career that I’m not sure I want? I strongly considered leaving the Ph.D., but I first wanted to evaluate all other options before deciding which would be the right move. I actively explored more options for my career, leading me on a quest to learn about research opportunities outside of academia.
Continue reading “Taking risks and exploring new opportunities: An unpaved path to better mental health during the PhD”
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