tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post769595179607747766..comments2024-03-27T02:24:30.591-07:00Comments on Get a Life, PhD: How to Thrive in the Academy … With or without saving the world firstTanya Golash-Bozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-28793835750865552962012-09-28T15:21:44.908-07:002012-09-28T15:21:44.908-07:00My question is: Did you write up in a shared house...My question is: Did you write up in a shared house?<br /><br />If so, how did you manage to be happy? Did you have a cleaner?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-19179910371007607472012-09-12T17:30:16.843-07:002012-09-12T17:30:16.843-07:00I love your perspective on life. It's similar ...I love your perspective on life. It's similar to my perspective, but as I'm writing up my phd at the moment I needed the reminder. So thank you. Also, unfortunately I know of no good role model for me in academia, all the professors I know seem to think that the more you work, the more you miss out on all the fun things in life the more your proving yourself as a "serious" acaedemic. But I like planning my day, been organised and working in bursts and then doing other nice things that make me happy.Instead I see people not eat lunch, have meetings straight through all day then finish with a three hour meeting that should have only been an hour long but because they're brain switched off hours ago they couldn't focus, complain about how busy they are. And I don't wish to choose that for myself. So thank you for demonstrating that it is possible to be a sensible, fun, happy academic. R.Irish physicisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08863254007542524373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-10322616039243304542012-08-05T13:21:32.730-07:002012-08-05T13:21:32.730-07:00thanks for your comment, danne. something to ponde...thanks for your comment, danne. something to ponder about the labels we put on our feelings and states of mind - freedom, happiness, non-attachment, etc. Whatever you call your state of bliss, it's something worth striving for as opposed to living in a morass of anger and bitterness.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-77100953151658733952012-08-04T01:04:25.486-07:002012-08-04T01:04:25.486-07:00Tanya, I very much enjoy your blog which is helpin...Tanya, I very much enjoy your blog which is helping me find the right attitude as a working PhD student. However, I am not sure I agree with your proposition that "this blog is about how to be happy on a daily basis, despite all of the structural problems with the academy and widespread injustice in the world." While I support your effort to help academics thrive without becoming slaves to the institution in terms of work hours and the like, I believe that freedom should take over happiness since it brings a deeper sense of fulfilment. I am thinking also of Paulo Freire's idea that one must fight one's own oppression in order to address injustice. This would mean opposing the academic institution (as perhaps you do by working 8 hour-days and refusing to give up your personal and family life) rather than separating one's role within it from a sense of responsibility towards injustice in the wold. <br /><br />I recently wrote a blog post on the subject: http://fallenleaf.net/2012/07/31/can-intellectuals-be-activists/Dannehttp://fallenleaf.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-11754921010250308662012-07-30T06:22:00.689-07:002012-07-30T06:22:00.689-07:00Most likely we do! USC has a great program.Most likely we do! USC has a great program.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-30970299212164678072012-07-25T21:18:17.234-07:002012-07-25T21:18:17.234-07:00I echo all of the above. Thank you so much for wr...I echo all of the above. Thank you so much for writing this post, and writing it so well! I am new to the blog, and this is the first post I'm reading. And I am a KU alum (graduated in 1998 with B.A. degrees in Spanish and Humanities, in which my three areas were English, American Studies, and Religious Studies). My Ph.D. is in American Studies & Ethnicity from USC, with a concentration in Sociology. And I am now an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Brandman University. You and I probably know some of the same folks. :)The Reluctant Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09258091164413535282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-31848496891636993862012-07-12T12:30:32.394-07:002012-07-12T12:30:32.394-07:00Recently I was thinking about this issue, so I esp...Recently I was thinking about this issue, so I especially liked this post, thank you.<br /><br />I'm only an MA student, yet, but it's my plan to continue to this journey. The attitude towards academicians, that they always have to be serious, whenever they talk, they have to talk about serious/world issues always make me worried. I use my blog to relax, but somehow I feel guilty that I'm not responsible, or serious enough on my blog posts. Your post is like an answer to my concerns. Thank you again.Berrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01747140686220552402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-7844502665420014942012-07-03T11:51:40.631-07:002012-07-03T11:51:40.631-07:00I am happy to see the positive reaction to this po...I am happy to see the positive reaction to this post and glad to learn these thoughts resonate with others.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-54620780784667047812012-07-03T05:26:11.365-07:002012-07-03T05:26:11.365-07:00Tanya - your post affected me so deeply that I had...Tanya - your post affected me so deeply that I had a dream about it last night! I am going to adopt your declaration "I like being happy" as my new life mantra. I'm an advanced PhD, writing my dissertation, teaching, working on various side projects etc. etc. etc. Your blog has helped me tackle a lot of my writing issues, but there was a piece missing - balance. Now when I schedule my writing time, I'll also be thinking about making time to just be, and to just be happy.<br /><br />Again, thank you one million times for this post.Juliahttp://amstlab.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-39420183922442403492012-07-02T04:07:21.784-07:002012-07-02T04:07:21.784-07:00Dear Tanya,
I come to your blog regularly to wrap...Dear Tanya,<br /><br />I come to your blog regularly to wrap my mind around academic life and to re-instill the belief that there can be a healthy work-life balance where one can pursue hobbies and a personal life and yet still be successful in academe. Your r&r post helped me achieve my first forthcoming.I am a political scientist-the closest field to yours from my perspective. I am hoping that you will write a blog on 'how to network' as that is one big challenge I'm facing. Thank you for this blog and congrats on your new job!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-4191858519009884482012-07-01T13:27:44.614-07:002012-07-01T13:27:44.614-07:00Great post, Tanya.
I recognize myself in what you...Great post, Tanya.<br /><br />I recognize myself in what you describe - dreaming of big changes in our world, but trying to make the most of it on a day-to-day basis.Eva Lantsoghthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06038354550224140273noreply@blogger.com