should I finish my PhD?

Question

I'm getting a PhD in English but so I'm sick of this field, sick of these classes. It feels so useless. I am determined to steer clear of academia after I graduate or simply shoot myself in the head. So I should leave my program, right? Only dilemma is that I've got just under 2 yrs left in my program AND I have no idea what I would pursue instead.

When people ask me what I would be doing if I had a million dollars, I say, not a d*mn thing.

What do I do with myself? I'm extremely unhappy.

Answer 1

Girl, You and I (you and me?) anyways, are the in very similar situations.

First, I would say that it first depends on what you want to do. Was your master's also in English? What about your BA? I would say that you have it made. If your current avatar is an accurate pictorial representation of you, I'd have to say that you could absolutely write your own ticket. There are not very many African-American women with Ph.Ds. If you don't want to be a college professor or even teach highschool English, I'm wondering what you could do. Maybe for a magazine or newspaper, writing. Although you could always teach English overseas. Again I say, it all boils down to what you want to do. If you continue to feel that it is useless or want to leave academia, that's fine; even 2 years prior to finish.
2 years in a program is a lot of time, but then again, it's not either. That's 2 years that you could be even closer to getting to where you want to go.

Now, the part about what you'd do if you had a million dollars? I don't know. You have to do something. Everyone has some an interest in something. Even if it is completely unrelated to what you've been doing in English. Do you like business or art? Music? Maybe you have so many interests you just can't boil it down to one thing. Maybe you are doing what everyone else says you should do or what you think the job market demands? These are reasons to pick a degree, but not what will make YOU happy.

Personally, I just graduated 2 months ago with a Master's degree in a field I realized I don't want to work in; at least not right now. I know what I wake up in the morning thinking about and what I feel good doing. BA and Master's together, this is 7 years and $50K in loans later. However, I am more convinced that people do better on jobs that they enjoy. Money talks, but I felt so miserable getting up going to work everyday to a place I know I didn't enjoy. I didn't even take extreme pride in my job and my performance suffered. I was late all the time, and at times wasn't very pleasant or tried to go the extra mile. Sometimes you have to do what you can for the time being, but don't be miserable. I know of a lady that went all the way in a particular field to complete her Ph.D. and then returned for yet another Master's in a field that she knew she wanted to work in.

If you want to actually talk about it, I'd love to. email me: [e-mail]

Best in whatever you decide

Answer 2

Is there some way you can just take a break from the program so that you can work and come back later to your studies? If so, do that. If you like the job you get, you could just quit your studies for good.

Answer 3

This is a really typical ABD phase. You have been studying too intensively for too long and have lost track of why you are doing what you are. Therapy and antidepressants help. It doesn't make sense to quit if you don't have any idea of what you would do instead.

Answer 4

You sound burned out. Normal. Get through it and finish your degree and move on. I feel your pain. Student loans come due if you are not in school and you need to consider that aspect. You will do better with your degree finished.

Answer 5

No, you should not since yr english proficiency simply sucks! Pls do yrself a favour by re-enrolling at elementary level if you have not done so yet.

Answer 6

i think you should not leave phd because this degree have very much in your future.

Answer 7

You should finish and get your Degree.If you don't you will regret it.

Answer 8

Become a stripper. :)