IT HAS been yet another hectic week. Juggling between one’s studies and domestic responsibilities with two growing kids is an uphill task. These days it is getting even more difficult because of the thesis writing phase, which really keeps on surprising this writer. You never seem to get satisfaction from the end product and the urge to revise it and improve it continues to consume you.
I write something, go through the draft and indulge in self-criticism. Then I try to re-write it so as to tighten the loose ends and the vicious cycle continues apparently forever.
Truth be told, as Ph.D. scholars we should be a bit more realistic in our expectations. We should realize that a perfect thesis does not exist and there will always be a room for improvement. So, it is wise to settle for the best possible draft and stop at a certain level and tell yourself to stop and remain contend with what has come out of your efforts. Otherwise, the quest for perfection will only lead to depression. Another useful tip at this stage is to try and engage with others.
I had been very lucky to get enrolled at a special program called “the Ph.D. mentoring program.”
In this program, a mentor is assigned to every scholar and regular meetings are held to discuss issues regarding the Ph.D. work.
This mentor usually hails from a different background than yours and he/she will not aid in solving issues or aid in writing, they will just help you cope with the stress and guide you how to address your issues and how to maintain good contact with your supervisor.
Try to find something similar at your university, most universities provide such services to research students and sometimes we don’t know about them because of our chosen isolation.
In the middle of all of that, I took two days off to participate at Abu Dhabi’s 5th Festival for Art and Culture. I took part in a panel discussion titled “New media, new outlook.”
This was my first-ever visit to Abu Dhabi. And one has to appreciate the United Arab Emirate’s aspiration for quality and perfection. It is amazing how UAE had branded itself as a country that provides quality in all aspects and services. As an outsider, I witnessed this idea at work everywhere and in every aspect of UAE’s life. For instance, at Manchester Airport, both UAE airlines are the only airlines to have fresh flowers at their check-in desks. They are also among the very few airlines to provide exclusive lounges for their business and first-class passengers. The name UAE is associated with quality, achieving this type of branding requires strong vision coupled with hard work.
