Eventually, it is all worth it!
SUBHIKSHA
Dear confused undergrad,
Many might belittle you for choosing basic sciences, only because you couldn’t make it through medicine. But never doubt your choice. I, for example, choose myself over the societal expectations to be a doctor, because of my emotionally sensitive nature. I know myself that I couldn’t endure the magnitude of resilience needed to save lives, yet had it in me, the patience and persistence to pursue research, which will ultimately come to fruition someday as a tiny yet significant contribution. And I’m making the best use of my choice, exploring basic sciences to my heart’s extent by pursuing doctoral studies. No one knows you better than yourself, so trust your decisions and potential, rather than focusing on fitting into the mold.
The journey may not be filled with promises of lucrative salaries or prestigious positions, but chasing the never-ending trail of thirst for knowledge and research can be rewarding, if that is what excites you and you’ll eventually fall in love with the process. Maybe you may not end up in the top-tier, most well equipped university, but don’t let that break your dreams and the will for exploration. What is an adventurous journey without small hitches and hurdles along the way? It is often limited resources that breeds creativity. Equip yourself with strength and resilience to explore the world filled with opportunities and seek your interests.
The Road to PhD
Illustration by Ipshita
The journey of a researcher may be lonely at times, demanding the best version of yourself, not succumbing to the failures, resilience to keep troubleshooting and persistently figuring out stuff. Some days, imposter syndrome may get the best of you, making you feel like you don’t deserve this, you’re too dumb for this, or you don’t belong in these shoes. Trust me, these thoughts are here to stay, always churning in the back of your mind, to keep fuelling your perseverance. The beginnings are always so hard that you might end up messing with some calculations or breaking a few glasswares or contaminating your cell culture. But your journey as a researcher is beyond these. As you chase your hypotheses and dive into literature, remember that taking care of yourself—physically and mentally—is just as important. This may be a solitary career at times, but you don’t have to be isolated. Schedule those “me-time”, pick up some hobbies and learn new things that aren’t your science. At the end of the day, you’re more than your data.
Take one step at a time, read diligently like a literature student, to keep up with the findings; think strategically like an engineer to plan and execute your experiments; keep questioning with the curiosity of a child; connect and network well like a communication expert."
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You don’t have to have your entire career figured out on curing cancer or finding alternatives to tackle AMR (antimicrobial resistance).
Remember one thing, if you choose to be a researcher, view it as your career, and learn to demarcate it from not viewing it as your entire life. This path will undoubtedly shape you into a remarkable person. Have fun and enjoy the course of being a researcher.
From a fellow researcher,
Subhiksha
About Subhiksha
Subhiksha Duraisamy is a first-year PhD student at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics. Fascinated by the intricacies of the molecular and genetic world, she is pursuing her research on understanding transcriptional repressors in cell fate decisions. Although she often feels frustrated and lost on her journey, you can find her immersed in her books or untangling yarn for crocheting, disappearing into her own world.
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