The Pains and Pleasures of Dissertating

Writing a dissertation is no small feat; it is the culmination of years of coursework, methodological and analytical exercise, and creative and practical balance. Undoubtedly, these hardships gave way to the frequent advisor adage: A good dissertation is a done dissertation. (This is the piece of advice that Ph.D. students, myself included, are likely to take for granted.)

With the dissertation comes both woes and pleasures. Given that I am in the very early stages of dissertating, I wonder whether my intuition of the process will hold. Perhaps next year I'll circle back to this post and offer updated thoughts... But for now, here are a few observations:

The Pains

1. Endless Research: The paramount challenge of dissertating, at least for me, is the amount of reading and writing and re-writing it requires. It is impossible to read all papers on your dissertation topic, which means that writing the manuscript is inherently iterative: the more you read on a theory or method, the more precise you'll have to document each. This process almost always begins as overwhelming, and rarely becomes not overwhelming (only less overwhelming).

2. Fatigue: Another woe I've become increasingly aware of is fatigue—both mentally and physically. It's exhausting mental work to make the hundreds of decisions for a dissertation (everything from the title to who will sit on the committee), as well as to maintain a somewhat creative and coherent flow of words on the page. But it's also physically tiring. Physical strain can come from poor posture at the desk or coffee table, or from an unbroken gaze at the computer screen. Chicago River walks, strolls to Navy Pier, and even simple Starbucks runs have helped me here.

4. The Curse of Expertise: I know it gets easier over time to explain what you are studying and why it's important, but this is a program-long woe, not just one for the final dissertation. When my family asks what I study, it takes me a few seconds to find words that non-specialists will understand, especially in the jargon that clutters my mind. My mom laughs that she simply refers others to my bio on this website because it's easier to understand than when I try spelling it out.

The Pleasures

1. Contribution to Knowledge: Despite the challenges, dissertating offers a unique opportunity for intellectual growth. It's gratifying work to dive deep into the field, knowing that in the aftermath of it all, I'll be an expert on my topic. Hopefully, my work can be a springboard for important practice, whether in communication design or entreprenuership. In fact, this notion is what has kept me so enthusiastic about pursuing higher ed.

2. Routine: When I began grad school, I loved the flexibility; courses were offered in the evening or at night, giving me freedom to spend the days how I wished. In recent years, however, I've really come to appreciate the routine of waking up early, enjoying a cup of coffee with my partner, and walking to the lab space. Even though I'm often the only one in the workspace (most of my labmates work up in Evanston or at home), there is great reward to abiding by fairly standard working hours, to later come home to routine dinnertime, exercise time, and TV time (go Sabres!). Many professors and younger cohorts don't have the luxury of routine that I have during my dissertation fellowship year (fourth year for student in my program), so I will take advantage of it while I can!

3. Sense of Optimism: Completing a dissertation opens up so many opportunities—most obviously, academic job prospects, but also opportunities to explore life outside academia. I am privileged to study in a field that lends itself to so many contexts of intrigue, from politics and health to environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship. I am also fortunate to live in Chicago, with consulting firms andnonprofit orgs and government agencies abound. I can't wait to see what opportunities arise!

4. Personal Growth: Dissertating is not just about academic growth; it also offers personal growth. I have already noticed the development of invaluable skills such as time management, organization, and resilience. Most notably, this process has given me a hunger for making positive change in the world. Other side effects include getting back in touch with running to maintain mental clarity and physical health, a great network of friends and colleagues, and tons of intellectual stimulation. What more could a student hope for?

I anticipate that, over the process of writing my dissertation, I'll experience new pains and new pleasures, and will look back on each point above through a new lens. Although I'm giving roughly equal weight to pains and pleasures in this post, I should reinforce here that I wouldn't have pursued a doctoral degree if the pros didn't heavily outweigh the cons. I am loving what I'm doing, even if it means I must embrace the challenges it comes with. I hope that others in my shoes can also experience the highs and lows in a way that makes the process seem worthwhile. To you all: happy dissertating!