Late last year, I started writing about my journey towards getting a PhD. I plan to continue doing so until I’ve shared some of the key lessons I’ve learned. In this second installment of the Divine Disruptions series, I want to talk about the trade-offs that come with pursuing higher education. So, let’s dive in…

 When I received my offer letter to pursue a Doctor of Social Sciences, I was overjoyed. I couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear. Before this opportunity, I had been rejected multiple times as a high school and undergraduate student while seeking employment. These experiences taught me to appreciate good news emails when they come my way. That day, there were 3 reasons to smile. Firstly, I was grateful that God had come through. Secondly, my self-confidence had received an inexplicable boost. During the application process, I felt unqualified and doubted if I would be accepted into the program immediately. Thirdly, my faith received a significant uplift. “It is possible,” I thought. 

After sharing the good news with my parents, I quickly realised that accepting the offer came with some significant trade-offs, and the weight of reality set in. The first major decision I had to make was whether to work full-time and study part-time or study full-time and work part-time. By the grace of God and divine direction through prophecy, an opportunity to work in my dream role had presented itself three years prior. Quitting work entirely was not an option, and neither was switching fields. Therefore, before committing to pursuing my PhD, I made sure to gather as much information as possible about what to expect.

I am naturally risk averse and tend to plan everything, rather than being spontaneous.  I sought advice from experienced mentors who had completed their PhDs at different stages of their careers and life paths. They were all incredibly helpful in providing me with insights and helping me weigh my options. However, knowing about something in theory is different from experiencing it in reality.

Navigating career and student life demands

Envy has been a challenge I’ve faced for the greater part of my study journey. A part of me wanted to be a full-time student with a study scholarship. When I applied for my studies, I also applied for a scholarship to help cover my living expenses. Unfortunately, I was not successful and had to find a way to pay for my living expenses during my studies. However, I was awarded the Research Training Scholarship (RTS) by the Commonwealth Government, which helped. I only needed to pay the student amenities fee every semester and had no tuition fees to worry about.  But this meant I had to work to cover my living costs.

During my conversations with colleagues and mentors, I discovered that everyone had taken different paths while navigating work and study. However, they all advised me to start out as a full-time student, knowing that I could switch to part-time later if needed. They also emphasised the importance of pacing myself since a PhD is more of a marathon than a sprint – I’ve never been a fan of marathons! At the time I accepted the offer, I had a full-time job in the government that I had been dreaming of for years. Taking their advice, I began my studies as a full-time student but found it challenging to adjust to the demands of the program. 

When you switch from full-time to part-time work, it can be difficult to adjust to a lower salary. Your bills don’t decrease to part-time bills, and your life goals and desires also remain the same. It feels like you’re making a big sacrifice by taking a pay cut. On the day I officially submitted my request to adjust my work hours, I felt a mix of emotions. I was sad that my lifestyle would have to change, but I was also grateful that I had listened to my inner voice telling me to return to university. This decision had been brewing for some time, and in the 10 months before starting my studies, I had begun to adjust my spending habits. I invested in my wardrobe, buying clothes for work and other occasions, knowing that I would have less disposable income in the future. This turned out to be a wise decision, although COVID-19 and its accompanying weight gain were unwelcome surprises. I also re-examined my budget and had to adjust my timelines for certain goals, such as travel. 

 In my line of work, picking up extra shifts isn’t an option to boost my income. While I’ve always been mindful of my finances, I had to reassess my needs versus wants. From 2017 to the first quarter of 2022, I worked part-time—only three days a week—without any additional income. Initially, balancing part-time work was a challenge. I managed to complete the bulk of my fieldwork and initial chapter write-ups before increasing my workdays to four, which has made a significant difference. Surprisingly, I was able to pay off some major debts during this period, and I’m continually amazed by how God has exceeded my expectations and provided for me in what are mindblowing and unexpected ways.

Opting to work part-time has been difficult, but opting for this path has not only paved the way for unexpected opportunities but also led to enriching experiences. These include forming new friendships, engaging in collaborative projects, and volunteering, all of which have expanded my skill set and ultimately enhanced my effectiveness as a public servant. 

Navigating career advancement

When I started my journey, I knew and understood that this was my primary focus and everything else was a secondary priority. Putting university first, meant being realistic about work and having an honest conversation with myself about what I could and could not take on. For example, although I had desires to climb the career ladder, that meant taking on more responsibilities, which is something we often overlook when we think about or seek promotion opportunities.  Elevation and responsibility are inseparable twins. 

So, over the last couple of years I’ve had to be measured I’ve had to balance career growth and education carefully to ensure I did not stagnate. It has not been easy because there have been several great opportunities I’ve had to let go of. The two key lessons I learnt from these moments were:

1. Instead of opting for a higher role where responsibilities may be demanding, try a sideways move to learn new skills and gain exposure to a new area.
2.  Decide if you want to specialise or try different things early on. Moving up in the same team can be easier than starting somewhere new. Do your homework before making big career changes to keep your studies on track. 

A great piece of advice I received at the start of my career was to determine if I wanted depth or breadth of experience. Depth = staying in one area and mastering as much as I can while breadth = moving around more frequently before choosing to become an expert in one area. In my case, I chose the path of depth instead of breadth. That is, I chose to become a subject matter expert in an area. This has meant that over the last couple of years, I’ve worked in the same space – evaluation –  but done so across a range of policy areas. This has come with opportunities to take a range of vertical rise opportunities in the same team followed by a lateral move into a different team. The benefit has been smooth and seamless transitions and greater exposure.

So, think carefully and for those who pray, spend time in prayer before making a move. Consider going for a higher role within the same team vs seeking an external opportunity. Depending on what your priority may be, moving to a new role, organisations or team requires time to settle and learn new things. The culture, ethics, and approach of each team may differ, and this can be something that destabilises your study patterns. Do your due diligence and learn about the responsibilities attached to roles and opportunities. 

Navigating isolation and the occasional loneliness

For the last couple of years, I’ve told people considering further study the same thing in different ways, and what I have shared with them is this. The most challenging aspect of adult education is having to juggle relationships and life’s obligations. You will face some tough choices and often carry a tonne of guilt for not being able to be fully present or available.  I continue to learn that choosing to further studies means opting to learn how to carve out time, stay engaged, and remain reasonably accessible. 

Throughout my time as a student, I’ve humorously referred to myself as the “phantom student.” While I occasionally travelled to the designated PhD study block for my faculty before COVID, my limited presence on campus led to encounters where faculty staff and peers mistook me for a newcomer. My work commitments meant I was usually on campus on weekends when everyone including other PhD students was out. This left me feeling isolated at times. However, my involvement in a Higher Degree Research student network, which I eventually volunteered to co-facilitate with some colleagues became my lifeline. The monthly meetups we had with fellow PhD students offered invaluable support, allowing us to share experiences, troubleshoot challenges, and foster a sense of community. I also gained some connections through my rare attendance at some uni events.

As I wrap up, my closing piece of advice if you’re thinking about further studies, you should carefully consider your options. Whatever path you pick will have its fair share of burdens and responsibilities. Consider the hats you may wear – husband, wife, child, employee, business owner, or carer responsibilities. Schedule catch-ups with people who have gone before you and ask questions that can help inform your choices. Not just that but if your nearest and dearest can also speak to others who have supported loved ones through such a process. I say this because the demands of adult education can easily tip you into the space of overwhelm and stress amongst other things that can strain valued relationships. For now, I will pause here.

If you are considering further education and grappling with some of these questions, always happy to chat. If you are one of the lucky ones who have completed their studies, what pearls of wisdom would you share from your journey to encourage others?

Until next time! 🙂