I've gotten a pittance of grant support for a research trip. What's my frustration you might ask. Well you'd be surprised, it's not the normal reply of a postgrad. I'm very pleased with the amount the uni has given me. No, what makes me want to rip out my hair is that my husband thinks that this money belongs in the family coffers to settle emergency bills and whatnot. Even when I explain to him that this is money given to ME for MY SCHOLASTIC use, they idea is foreign to him. He tells me that I'm being selfish by considering it MY money and not FAMILY money. I can't decide whether he's just daft or so desperate for money that he can't see common logic.

Hey, it sounds GREAT to me, but I might just be frugal and used to making peanuts.

It goes without saying that I would consider academia a proud and noble pursuit. If not then I'd have chosen a different path. I put great value, and take an immense amount of pride in my accomplishments and progress. This is why it hurts so incredibly when people (my husband) belittle and under-value the work I, and those in my field, do. In the Russian-speaking Israeli vernacular there is a joke about a 'chatul madan'. Essentially the joke is about an educated cat. I used to really find this joke funny, and the first time my husband called me a 'chatul madan' during an argument I actually laughed out loud. I mean, I love cats, and I do spend my time in scholarly pursuits, so the old joke seemed rather apt. But now, this once endearing 'educated cat' nickname is a vexing source of frustration. There is nothing worse in my mind than someone so closed minded that they cannot see the value of all varieties of scholarly endeavors. I think what I do is important. Perhaps most people don't even know that what I research is a real field of study - but in my mind this is all the more reason for it to be of great importance. The world, and all it's nations, is so rich - and were academics to not research the esoteric I can guarantee that humanity would miss out on so much. It is the obscure that inevitably creates the definition of a society - I find this of tremendous value. So the next time he calls me a 'educated cat' or 'chatul madan' I'm going to try to remind myself - THIS IS A NECESSITY if society is every going to be able to find mutual understanding and compassion.

I'm 30 already, I don't know where the time has disappeared to. I was 23 when I first came to the uni, and I wish the end were closer. I'm anxious to actually get started with my life, my career, my future! The university that I attend has not been especially good to me historically - my department has thwarted my efforts at all stages, and as I slowly inch my way closer to the finish line I'm terrified by what horrors the department might have in store next. In my past struggles with my department I've had the great blessing that at the very least the faculty to which I belong has supported me. But I have to apply for a program extension this year, and anytime I have to approach the university and apply for their approval on something I'm rendered paralyzed by fear and anxiety. I do my best to be a model grad so that I can at minimum present significant progress and publication accomplishments with my yearly review and application for extension - but as we all know grad school holds absolutely no guarantees. My husband resents my PhD work so I feel I'm fighting a battle on both ends - as though the candle is being burned from both sides. When I feel as though the end is visible in the distance I feel a renewed sense of enthusiasm and drive. However, delays and the bureaucracy of the process quickly extinguishes this. I watch people I started with completing their programs and moving on with life, I applaud them, I am truly happy for them and their accomplishments - I just sometimes wonder if this is all such an uphill battle because I'm just not good enough. I belong to a grad student support group and recently they did a workshop on Imposter Syndrome, something I very much relate to. Am I just an imposter I wonder... Alright, I'm going to check my e-mail for the zillionth time to see if my supervisor has messaged. Sigh...

Oy, I so understand. My supervisor her her back about two months ago. I really feel for her because I know that she's not the type to take time off unless it's absolutely necessary. However, it's also resulted in almost two months of me being in a holding pattern. I feel a bit of a bad person for being frustrated, considering that her absence is certainly justified, but I'm very antsie.

I can really relate, and wish you the best of writing inspiration!

I'm feeling really frustrated, I am at a point in my program where I just want to be done. I see my peers finishing, and I know it's fruitless to make comparisons, but it's really disheartening to feel stalled. I have to apply for an extension come August, and this too is daunting...

Greatest congratulations to all!

You'll do fine as long as you don't over think it too much. Sometimes I've seen people (younger scholars in particular) get completely intimidated by their surroundings. Don't let this happen to you. You worked hard, and you have every right to be there! These are your peers and you don't need to feel inferior for a lack of experience. Be confident, you probably know your particular topic better than most people in the room, so be sure of yourself. Best of luck!

First, I wish you the best of luck! Really it's all so daunting and as much as you invest time wise it never really feels like you've gotten much of anything done. Might I suggest asking your supervisor for routine bi-weekly meetings. I'm not sure how accessible your supervisor is, but perhaps regular meetings would give you the opportunity to make certain that the corrections you are making are inkeeping with the original design. The problem with corrections often is that they can be vague, a meeting to review all your latest corrections might be a fruitful investment of your time.

I think the biggest issue plaguing us all is funding - namely not enough! I'm encountering problems with funding, specifically that my uni has deep pockets only for the sciences. I've had moderate success with the blanket approach, essentially e-mailing everyone you can think of and asking for money. Yes it sounds crude, but when it comes down to it you need to do what you need to do to fund your research. Good luck!