loveisallthatisreal

I’ve been following you on social media since you scaled the Everest. The first live stream on top of the Everest, correct ? I have not seen anyone of your caliber that is as social media savvy as you are. Do you think that social media given you an edge over other adventurers/explorers, in terms of exposure to an audience and prospective sponsors ? If so, will this be something you will incorporate in your teachings to young people who aspire to follow your steps ?

I find it respect-worthy that you’re giving actual specific advice, as opposed to vague inspiring life quotes like- “open your eyes and you shall see the truth”

Agreed. Perhaps telling our story is just as important as the story itself. You are certainly making history. Thanks for replying, Colin.

This may not be the answer to your question but just my thoughts on what happens after a PhD.

There is no real career guidance after a PhD. That’s the thing. You’re pretty much left to your own devices. Which is not surprising since most PhD students are left to figure it out on their own, while they are still trying to earn their degree. After graduation, you choose one of three paths. 1. Post doctoral fellowship 2. Industry/Non-academic job 3. Setup a company and become an entrepreneur .

Each of the above are difficult in their own ways, but mostly the first path is incredibly difficult. The leap from a post doc fellow to an assistant professor is HUGE. And most post docs do not make that leap, ending up as life-long post docs. The pay is ok and after a decade, it’s not that demanding to be a career post doc. But soul sucking. On the other hand, if you make the leap to becoming an assistant professor, then associate, then tenured professor, then be prepared to forget everything outside of school for the rest of your life (at least till you become tenured). And THAT is the hardest part. Most people do not want to work 100 hours a week with no overtime, no guaranteed grants or tenure. Most of all, if the fire that’s there in the beginning is extinguished, then it’s impossible to survive on this path. You have be incredibly passionate about what you do, if you want to be a professor who is also a PI/Advisor. My friends who chose this path, barely have time to eat their meals. And they’re in their mid-late 30s, just starting their careers, preparing to make that leap. It’s a long road ahead.

On the other hand, if you choose option 2, you have to be ready to do work that has the research already done for you. It may or may not be that way but most of the times, but doing a PhD and working a job in the industry just feels like you sold your soul to the devil. The money is great but again, soul sucking.

If you chose option 3, you must be a freaking genius, which not all PhDs are, tbh. And you must have the knack to pull in investors or have your own money. Which makes this path, possibly most fulfilling, but also the most uncommon.

In short, doing a PhD is not a piece of cake and doesn’t guarantee anything, like say graduating with an M.D. would. The ones that still go for it have to be extremely passionate, and slightly delusional. But in a good way. We need our delusional dreamers to help save our deteriorating health and our planet. Our future is in the hands of our PhDs.

P.S. Congratulations, OP.