The title says it all. It's 10:15PM here on Sunday night and I'm away from the wife and kids, doing some last-second cramming for a midterm. It was a beautiful weekend, warm but not too scorchingly hot, sunny, a few lazy clouds floating by. But did I enjoy the lovely weekend? The lovely wife? Lovely kids? No, I spent all day Saturday and Sunday studying while my longsuffering wife took charge of the kids (for those of you who know of my Messianic leanings, I don't think that studying is a violation of the command to "Keep the Sabbath holy"--I don't technically think it's work, but whatever, I'm willing to be proven wrong by more knowledgable members of this forum). Anyway, just taking a couple minutes before I click that dreaded "begin" button to start the test, which I won't finish til close to Midnight. Then of course, back up and at 'em Monday morning for work, followe4d by some last-minute touches to a HW assignment, then finally home to see the wife and kids, whose faces I seem to have forgotten. Alas, on to the exam...
Feel for you buddy, and it doesn't stop there. I was told that undertaking a PhD was one of the most selfish things someone can do, and it rings true for me. My wife has had to take on a whole load of new responsibilies with our 3 kids, and they are lucky to see me at all over the weekend and during the evenings. It will pay off one day, hopefully sooner than later! Cheers, George
I know how you feel. I have felt the same thing for the past five years. There are things I want to do and I end up doing my school work. There is an alternative...drop out of school. Just joking...
It's a bummer, and it's one that I asked for. I don't know why my wife didn't smack me upside the head for even suggesting this MBA online thing. Anyway, from my office, where I go to to study, I can see groups of guys and gals on their motorcycles heading out for the weekend, wind in their hair, not a care in the world; I can see guys with the golf clubs thrown into the back of the truck, heading out to the links for a day of comraderie; I can see families heading out with the camper in tow in anticipation of a beautiful weeked in the Ozarks, which are nearby. But here I am blowing the family's money--so we can't afford the camper, and I can't afford the motorcycle or the golf course membership--at nearly $2,000 per course on an MBA so that maybe someday I can teach FT at the university level and then allegedly have more time for the family. I was thinking about a PhD, really seriously considering it. But now I'm wondering if it's really worth it. After I grind through this next year or 18 months and hopefully finish this MBA, I'm thinking maybe I'll just apply for whatever academic position I can scrouge up: Community College, Small Private, tiny lower-paying state university, whatever, and just take some time off and give up the big-buck tenure track recsearch university dream. Many schools will give me "doctorate" wages anyway with a lowly JD, what's the use of putting my family through 5 more years of a marginal existence and little of me? I've got 5 small kids. So, next year look out North Eastern South Western Podunk U, here comes my CV, please give me a job! Boy I'm tired of this. You folks working FT while working on the side on the DL PhDs have my condolences. I can't even imagine! I'm just really tired, walk around like a zombie, then I lay in bed at night and have so much info running through my head I can't wind down and sleep, so it's a vicious circle. Thanks for letting me vent.
I think that I just try to see the end of the light. I just hope that I can teach enough classes at Devry to pay for my tuition at UH. I am taking 6 hours this semester, so I know I will die. Add to that, I am trying to get back in racing (running) shape again, it just amounts to death. Something keeps me going on however. Maybe it is insanity. Because I will be so busy, I am going to stick to 5 and 10 K's for awhile. My sister-in-law is trying her first half marathon and wants me to help her. I told her I dont have time. I can only max out at 40 miles a week. Oh well. Good luck Little Fauss, you will do well.
A runner, eh? The only running I do is after my kids. That "insanity" theory may be close to the truth for the lot of us. But of course, we'll trudge through it, and hopefully not make everyone around us insane in the process. Thanks for the encouraging words.
Michael J Pollard said: Ah but do they have a degree? Do they have a good career that they love? Study on and wear blinders! When studying at 1 am while working FT I made it a point to shut the world out! I had better things to do. Dan
