Life Decisions Answered (Almost)

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Thank you to everyone who commented or sent me emails! You’ve given me a lot to think about, and I’m grateful. Wake-up calls left and right. What are my true motives? At the heart of it, that’s the question I wasn’t asking. Intrinsic or External motivators? And I taught this stuff to freshman last year!

1) What is your goal?

• Director of Advising

2) Why?

• logical next step
• sense of obligation to my education/talents
• Puritanical guilt at enjoying life
• “Isn’t it expected of me?”
• if I don’t have kids, shouldn’t my career be Very Important
• pride/status in being a PhD

3) Do you even want that?

• Um, maybe not. Right now I can’t even picture myself as a manager, but maybe in 10 years? And the answers to number 2 are a wake-up call. I had forgotten to ask them.

4) Could you achieve the same thing with more experience and just a few classes?

• Possibly. I’ve noticed most at that level have the PhD (or will soon).

5) What is the financial cost/benefit?

• At $40 in fees per course, plus books = $100 a course. Times minimum of 20 courses = $2,000 in current 2007 prices. Anticipated salary raise = $10,000. Time to completion = minimum 8 years.

6) What would you do if you didn’t pursue the PhD?

• Take fun classes at the community college: language, quilting, etc.
• Become active in my local branch of the Sierra Club (did you know that my windy state only produces 74 megawatts of wind power while neighboring less wind potential states produce over 700 megawatts?). If not the Sierra Club, then another organization that focuses on conservation, sustainability.
• Become a Big Sister
• Volunteer at the Girl Scouts
• Pursue my singular pursuits of baking, reading, gardening, sustainability etc.
• Make new friends I can hang out with, that have *gasp* nothing to do with the university (or at least my office)

7) Would you be willing to change careers and even accept less money?

• Yes, I’d be willing to change careers, although right now I enjoy working at a University. I could see myself working a variety of social service/environmental service agencies, but nothing too heartbreaking. I cry easily. Could I accept less money? If I made any less, I’d be unable to pay my student loans back.

Conclusion? You helped me realize I want the PhD for the wrong reasons. And until I feel comfortable with my answers other than “I might regret it later if I don’t”. I shouldn’t do it. How many times have I told a student, “You have to be absolutely sure you want this before you jump into grad school”?

I’m going on another business trip this weekend, but will post a pie for you later tonight. Pie always makes things better.

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Tags: external motivators, intrinsic motivators, life decisions