POB - Word of the Week Challenge - "Persistence" - Drum & Bass Edition
Alright so we're back again for another Word of the Week Challenge from @calumam and after finishing in the top 3 previously with the "Atmosphere" round, I've got to try and keep the podium spot haha! This time, the word is "Persistence" and I'm going to provide another Drum & Bass track I made which epitomises this word as without having persistence, I wouldn't have made it through my PhD - this is "Can't Give In":
Can't Give In
I think you either have this never-say-die attitude within you or you don't, and the only way you get to grow as a person is by pushing through the toughest of tough times. When I was 3 years in to a PhD that eventually took nearly 6, I was at a make or break point and could have easily thrown in the towel. One thing after another went wrong with it, all factors out of my control, and those who have either been to Uni, done a dissertation or a PhD yourselves, know how lonely a place it can be.
Even though there were other PhD students in the same situation all offering each other moral support, you were still on your own. To put it in to perspective, back in my day (old man), a PhD was funded for 3 years, then you had 1 year after (unfunded) to hand in your thesis. I had 2 extensions, one for an extra 12 months funding and time extension, which eventually took my total time to 5 years 9 months.
Persistence - Digging Deep
I did write my PhD Survivor Guide a couple of years ago, reliving the full tale if you wanted to give yourself nightmares... errr... I mean... light reading about the full journey! That post alone was longer than my undergraduate thesis haha! In the end, once I had all the facilities and equipment I needed, I got all my data and results in the space of 10 months, working day and night, blood, sweat and tears (and a few burns) then wrote up in the year after - all 29,000 words and 330 pages.
At least, that's what I thought... then 2 weeks before handing in, my supervisor said I can't include these results as he didn't speak to our collaborators to ask if I could include them despite telling me for two years that it was fine to put those in... Yeah... just correlate that to the previous 5 years and that was my PhD experience lol! I ended up re-writing everything in that two weeks, handed it in uncorrected and ended up with a pass... CHEERS ME DEARS!!
So if you're listening to the track as you're reading this, you'll probably notice the gritty theme to this one which represents digging deep and not giving in, having persistence to see those big challenges through. If I had given up 3 years in, then life would be very different for me I'm sure. As it is, persistence paid off and I now relish challenges!
Join The Challenge
That's my entry folks, hope you enjoyed it. Would love to read your stories so I'll be checking out posts this week - make sure you post from the Proof of Brain site and follow the instructions from Calum's post here.
What have you achieved that you persisted and had to dig deep with? Share your story and get inspired!
Nicky
P.S. tagging in a few friends (no obligation but would be cool to read your stories) - @anaclark @trucklife-family @plantstoplanks @traciyork @fionasfavourites @uwelang
Thank you for the tag, I forgot about last weeks, will get on with it this week. Love the tune and the story that goes with it. Bloody bummer though that your first paper was not accepted, but I imagine in the end it happened just as it was meant to. 2 weeks though, that must have been stressful xxx
Oh yeah Aishlinn it was probably the most stressful thing that's happened in my life so far. Having a job interview seems like child's play compared to what that was haha! All's well that ends well but it was worth it for the life experience (and the doctorate certificate of course :D )
I'm looking forward to reading yours! Please tag me in it. I'm sure you have some stories to tell :)
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Thanks for the tag,Nicky. I didn't know about this. And, I might just do it...the choice of word/topic is certainly appropriate.
I was thinking of you when I read this week's topic and think you will have a few stories to tell! Just hope you can get one in before the deadline #justsaying :)
@nickyhavey been persistent really helped you alot,persistence is possible when you are determined too,someone who is not determined to achieve a certain goal might not be willing or be able to become persistent during their journey to get their goals....great post from you sir...
Thanks mate and you are absolutely right about that. You can often tell by speaking to people how persistent they are in their pursuits. There are many things that contribute to persistence such as discipline, motivation, digging deep but I think we all have these traits in us when our back is against the wall! Looking forward to reading your post :)
Man, those last three years must have been pretty dark. Looking back, is there any one thing you wish you had done differently back then?
Yeah man, they were some of the darkest times I've been through and definitely had an impact that I've felt up to this day.
That's a great question and if I'd have to go back and do one thing differently, it would be even before I did the PhD and have changed the undergraduate course that I picked when I first went to Uni.
I'd have gone for something related to Astronomy & Space Science rather than Sports Science & Materials Technology but I'll be starting a masters at a new University hopefully in January on that subject and pursue a career change.
Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to reading your post too :)
All the best on the new Masters. Hopefully with the PhD experience this will be a piece of cake in comparison yet fruitful all the same.
Thanks a lot mate, I hope so too and we will see how it goes! Maybe I can use crypto to fund some of the tuition costs 😊
There is nothing better than a melody to be able to take some breath and move on, excellent lines my friend and also a very good melody. It is charged with energy and can shake off the dust that perhaps settles in our being when we lower the revolutions!
Thanks a lot for listening mate and glad you feel the energy in this one, hope it inspires! I did find a lot of solace in the tunes I made back then, helped me get through all these tribulations!
Looking forward to reading your entry this week!
Thanks for the tag (reminder). I’m on the run right now but I’ll try to find time to read this and jump into the fun later this evening.
Inspiring story. I probably would have given in under such conditions. I know how daunting it was writing final year project in uni. Good one mate. Cheers!
Thanks mate, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I didn't persist but I think it was better to carry on and complete it! The final year projects are a tough one too as you have to balance revision, other coursework and of course, parties! Haha!
I know what it would have been: NO PHD. lol
well I plan to do my master's soon. so I guess I will be reliving old memories again.
Lol, yeah, pretty much and now, no-one can take that away from me :D
You and me both mate. I'm going back to do a masters in a different field of study and switch careers so time to relive those memories too... hopefully the better memories, not the sh*t ones LOL! What are you studying?
If there is one thing that I think is to be persistent, it is in studies, mainly those that we are, in a certain way, "obliged" to do that way, just to get approved in the end and say that you are what you really are.
I have admiration for people just like you.
Thanks man! Yeah you do have to be persistent with studying and it helps if you can find something you're really interested in. All's well that ends well though!
Wow!!! I listened first and really liked the song. But after I read about what happened when you were going to hand your thesis... The song literally changed for me! I could feel the digging!!! And also I could feel a deep "noooooo" inside of me when i read it too... heheheh
What a great story mate! I've never tried to do any academic work when I was at the uni, because I could see all my friends in the same persistent journey as you.
BUT CHEERS!!!! YOU MADE IT!!! CONGRATZ!!!
Thank you so much for sharing!!! What an awesome post!
Haha, thanks a lot mate and there definitely some "stronger words" being used than "noooo" at the time 😂 those experiences have made me realise a lot though and my tolerance for BS totally dropped.
Like in your entry where you just kept trying things and moving on, same for me in these last 6 years but with each event you can only grow as a person, lest you make the same mistakes over and over again!
What's interesting is my experiences from Uni aren't unique and many go through the same thing so make of that what you will. Maybe I should have just partied harder instead 😀
Thanks for stopping by!
First, I apologize for the extra year you had to spend in there disserting and writing a thesis, and all of that
I am happy I decided to read this alongside the beat, the rhythms match the experience you poured out
I congratulate you for staying put even in the face of obstacles and being able to complete your Ph.D.
It is an experience worth sharing. I wish you luck in the contest dear
Thanks for all the support and kind words. It was quite an experience and it's taken time to heal the wounds but it's worthwhile in the end because it changed my perspective a lot!
You really do need to be passionate about your field of research to make it feel less like work.
Glad you enjoyed the music too and hope you have a great weekend!