Why I'm Struggling in Academia

I've been working my way through a PhD program for the past three and a half years.  During this time I have often wondered why I am doing this, and I've thought about quitting.  I know why I am doing it.  I was feeling stale in my career and - in some ways - limited in my thinking.  I've always like school so I thought another graduate degree would be a good way to expand my horizons a bit.  I also wanted to develop skills in research and writing.  Further, I believe the advanced degree will open some doors in my career that I am eager to go through. 

But lately I am finding that I am really struggling with this program and thoughts of quitting keep popping into my mind.   A good friend of mine (who wisely completed her PhD in her 20's BEFORE she had children) is a professor and department chair at a local private university.  When I expressed my agony to her, she sympathized like a good friend.  And then she startled me by saying, "Oh, but that's just how all people in academia feel.  Academic types tend to be a pretty negative group of people." 

What?!  I asked her to explain further.  She thought briefly and then said, "I think we are so negative because our work involves critiquing things.  We are always looking at the  details to find out what is wrong with something and it seems to spill over into our daily lives."  She's right.  Think about the language of academia - scholars decide what they want to write about, and then develop their "argument."  They strengthen their own argument by critiquing the arguments of others.  

Developing skills in logic and argumentation can be useful in many professional settings.  It also makes for stimulating conversation at a dinner party with friends.  But after nearly 4 years in an academic environment, I am beginning to conclude that "arguing" 40 (or 60 or 80) hours a week in a community of like-minded "thinkers" around the globe can be mentally and emotionally exhausting as life becomes one big problem to analyze and solve.  And that, my dear readers, is DEPRESSING.

I'm the type of person that has to be encouraging.  "You can do it!" is a phrase I use often...but sadly it's one that I hardly ever hear from professors and advisors at the University.  More often I hear, "This is a good start but..." or, "You've failed to address prior arguments by..."  Now bear in mind that I am a straight A student (except for one B+ in a stats class), yet I still receive far more criticism than praise.  And according to my friend, this is just the nature of the environment.

What I find interesting is how many of my academic colleagues (who have no work experience outside of academia) criticize the capitalistic-minded business community for being harsh and unkind.  I've worked in the corporate world for over 15 years, and that is where I have been some of the nicest, most encouraging people who have greatly influenced my life in positive ways.  Of course I have seen my fair share of horrible bosses, for the most part the people I have met have been caring, hardworking individuals who are trying to do a good job and be kind to others. 

I can think of at least three reasons why the corporate environment tends to be more encouraging than the academic environment:

1. First, the pace is faster.  We don't have months and months to sit around nitpicking the minute details of a sentence in a journal article.  Typically corporate work is related to a relatively immediate need in the market and we don't have time to sit around "admiring the problem" we need to get busy solving it. 

2. Second, corporate environments require collaboration to get things done.  People who have been in any company with any level of sophistication know that partnership - cross-functionally, with customers, with vendors, and even hierarchically through levels of authority, is required to succeed in todays business climate.  We don't have time or energy - or frankly the interest - to pick each other apart. 

3. And third, there is no tenure system.  We know that how we behave towards our co-workers will be reflected in our performance appraisals and will ultimately impact whether we can stay employed.  So we are careful to treat others well - if only on the surface.

I realize I am describing a more ideal corporate environment, and there are plenty of places that are difficult and stressful to work.  But by and large, I think there is some truth to what I am saying.

What do you think?

Comments

[Jason Monastra]

Now that is one of the more interesting posts I have read in sometime. For the most part, I keep away from the pure academics as I see them as being limited, not wide minded as you offer. Let me clarify here.

You bring a very strong point to the surface. Academics tend to have the opportunity to review issues for months on end without a component of time being a factor. However, that exact lack of pressure, is what causes most of them to see things in the "vacuum" or the "bubble" which is often referred to academics that see things without the pressures of the outside world. The pressures, the time constraints, the anxieties of what effects people's decisions are exactly what make them problems - therefore requiring solutions that take those factors into account.

I tend to think professionals that have experience in both make for the best teachers, as they can take the lessons learned in the classroom - apply them in the office, grow with both and then teach according to the wisdom gathered.

Just my opinion.....

[Rachel - I Hate HR]

I think mistakes are more accepted in the business world. If we do something wrong we just say "oops," apologize and send out a new copy. There is pressure to do it right but your being does not depend on everything being done perfectly.

[Rachel - I Hate HR]

I think mistakes are more accepted in the business world. If we do something wrong we just say "oops," apologize and send out a new copy. There is pressure to do it right but your being does not depend on everything being done perfectly.

[Jackie Cameron]

This is really interesting Peggy. I used to work with lawyers and at that time a survey showed that they were amongst the gloomiest employees - because their job is to nit pick and look for fault in every case! So I see your point with academics. I am currently working on a number of projects with a university here in Edinburgh ( the one I studied at too incidentally). They have a model where they bring in associates from the outside world for specific collaborations. This I think is a deliberate step to appeal to a wider student market but it has the added advantage of inviting questions about the current way they do things - which can only be a good thing surely!

[Lonely Dissertator]

I have the opposite experience. In Corporate Asia, it's dog-eat-dog (and then there are the nicer people in HR!). Here in Academia, faculty generally care about student progress, etc.

In terms of critical thinking, surely there is an abundance of it in academia, and less of it in the corporate world.

In some ways, having heard how passionately you argue about things, I am surprised that you find arguing to be difficult. Perhaps it is argumentation that is detailed and scientific (and long-drawn out) rather than the quick opinion-oriented argumentation that does not appeal to you right now?

I know that the key shift for me from corporate- to academic-mindset has been that long, detailed, scientifically-rigorous thinking versus the quick opinion-oriented "throw a few charts on the powerpoint" style of convincing folks.

But let me not come across to you as yet another discouraging, negatively-oriented academic voice. Keep processing, and keep on chugging. Don't quit. If you can, shift from being "practical" to being "scientific/philosophical" for a little while, and you'll be done before you know it. Hey, you might even have some good things to say about academia! ;-)

--------Career Encourager says...

Hi JB -

Thanks for reading and for commenting. I always appreciate encouragement from you. I'd like to respond to three things from your comment:

First, you mention having heard me passionately argue about things. This is true. And it's one reason why I am open to your feedback - because I know you have seen, and heard me and have considered who I am. In other words, I feel confident that you respect me as a person. This has been lacking in some of the feedback I have received in academia (granted - that occurs in the business world too).

Second, you say "Perhaps it is argumentation that is detailed and scientific (and long-drawn out) rather than the quick opinion-oriented argumentation that does not appeal to you right now?" Ahhh - you've got me here. This is good food for thought. My initial response is that I think I am up-front about what I am thinking and what my tentiative conclusions are, and that I lay them out there for consideration and discourse. Then, if I find I am wrong, I am willing to change. Sometimes I get the sense in that in academia people are more reluctant to say what they really think and hide behind supposed "scientific discourse" that they have constructed to prop up an opinion they already hold. For me, this can create distrust.

Finally, you bring out an interesting point when you reference the "dog eat dog" climate of business in Corporate Asia - as with many issues in life, it is important that we understand that our opinions are shaped by our prior experiences. You are coming from Corporate Asia so you see the differences in academia from that perspective. I am coming from a backgorund of companies that have done a good job of representing what is good about "compassionate capitalism" so I evlauate my time in academia through that lens.

Thanks for the feedback and the encouragement. You know I count on you as one of the voices of reason in the hallowed halls of academia!

Peggy

[Lonely Dissertator]

RYC (regarding your comment): Wow, "compassionate capitalism" sounds absolutely amazing. I will be picking your brain when I return to "redeem" Corporate Asia!

As for those who hide behind supposed scientific discourse as opposed to being more upfront, I guess that's the arena or language of argumentation in academic circles. "Learn the talk (and writing) or perish from the scholarly community" is what I've learned. I think I've gotten a good handle on figuring out the more closely-held opinions of scholars [read: primal emotional responses] that fuel their florid rhetoric. It took a while though! My next skill is to figure out how to translate words such as "our contrasting epistemologies" to words like "I just really hate your guts" in such a way that we can build a harmonious bridge between the ivory tower and the trading floor. (Hmm... I'm in a wry mood today!)

In any case, I'm glad I can be a reasonable voice in your academic experience. *bow*

[erotik shop]

I think mistakes are more accepted in the business world. If we do something wrong we just say "oops," apologize and send out a new copy. There is pressure to do it right but your being does not depend on everything being done perfectly

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