<p>Some years ago I returned to school to pursue a PhD in a very challenging field. I finally finished this past winter, and can now append PhD to my name. The experience was mainly about the pursuit (climbing Mount Everest), rather than a career move, and I am currently only adjuncting part time (REALLY part time). </p>
<p>I have no plans to pursue full-time work due to health problems and other issues. People keep asking what I will do now that I have finished my degree, and I really don’t know how to respond. Whatever comes out ends up sounding rather lame.</p>
<p>I can relate to this one. I am in the last grad class before earning my MAT. I am a teacher and while most teachers need to earn a masters degree within 5 years of their undergrad, I don’t HAVE to because I was licensed so long ago, I fall under a grandfather clause. Anyway, I am getting my masters because I wanted to get my masters. I wanted to be better and what I do because I am truly passionate about it. I will earn more money because of the second degree and, of course, that’s wonderful and I won’t pretend that it wasn’t an incentive, but it isn’t the primary reason that I pursued the degree.</p>
<p>People are so surprised when I tell them that I wanted to get my masters because, well, i wanted to learn more! Why is that so shocking and why should you be made to feel that you have to justify the PHD by working full time? Has education for the sake of education become passe?</p>
<p>When people ask you what you are going to do tell them that you are going to spend some time enjoying the fact that you have succeeded at something difficult.</p>
<p>Or you’re going to practice writing your name with all of those letters after it!</p>
<p>Or you’re going to write lots of personal mail just so you can sign your name with Dr. in front of your name.</p>
<p>Anyway, Congratulations on your accomplishment!</p>
<p>congratulations, that’s fantastic. good for you.</p>
<p>“Do? what do you mean, do?”</p>
<p>“I’m not sure yet. I want to enjoy the moment.”</p>
<p>“Go to lunch. Care to join me?”</p>
<p>Here is the only thing I will say to you, and I’m not asking. Just for you to think about for yourself. If somebody asks me what I am going to do with something and I have no desire to do anything with it? I don’t feel like saying that is lame. So, the only question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you really, in your heart, want to do something else with this doctorate. For you. Not because it is lame not to, because it is not, but because the feeling of it being lame might be your way of telling yourself you are not yet done with something…blah, blah, blah.</p>
<p>Tell the people that are asking that you are thinking about going back to school to get another degree. This shuts em up real quick as they realize that you are in it just for the personal enrichment.</p>
<p>If you’re curious, why don’t you ask for suggestions on what they think you should do & if they’re hiring & want someone with a PhD? Otherwise, I might say, “You know, I’m just thrilled they wanted to give me a credential to acknowledge my great love of learning! Until I figure out that I need the degree for anything in particular, I’m just going to continue being the best teacher I can!”</p>
<p>People are just “making conversation.” Feel free to say whatever you want…I’m going to write more…I’m going to do something in the future…I just did it for personal reasons…I’m busy with family and my current work, so I don’t have time for a new thing yet…etc…</p>