Wow part of this post is a bit harsh. This person is not making a joke out of anything. Starting something you thought was for you and then figuring out maybe it isn't is not a huge deal. No need to be rude.

Yea that was my plan. I've used all of those techniques before just not in some time, so I guess I'm afraid of being "rusty". Not to mention actually using them to carry out my own research and not someone else's like I was doing previously.

Hi,

Let me just start by saying I know exactly how you feel. I'm at the beginning of my 2nd year and I have days where everything seems completely hopeless on this PhD journey. During my first year I participated in individual and group therapy for anxiety and depression. I'm not going to lie I still struggle with both everyday (and actually just posted about my own fears).I guess the best advice I could give is too only listen to your heart on the good days. Depression can really alter our view on life and have us make hasty decisions that we wouldn't normally make.

I think you should maybe give it on more semester while you work through your issues and then decide if it's for you or not.

If you do decide to leave though, know that it's completely okay. Life is too short to be miserable!

Hope this helps :)

Hi all!

I am just starting up my second year of grad school in PhD program, and after spending my 1st year "floating" and not very sure of what I wanted to focus my research on; I feel that I now have more concrete ideas to get started on. While this is good and a step in the right direction, my confidence is still shaken because I feel like my knowledge of lab techniques is not where it should be. I haven't worked hands on in a lab in about a year and a half (I had a few internships previously), and my skills are completely lacking. I know that you aren't supposed to know how to do everything, but I'm super willing to learn I just hope that's enough.

I also don't want to be seen as some novice researcher who can't hold their own.

Thanks!