Working towards a PhD or professional doctorate is without a doubt a significant investment of time and energy. Doctoral programs are known to be rigorous and demanding. Is there any way to have at least a little fun during the process?<\/p>\n
According to Capella University staff and alumni, the answer is a qualified yes, and it may mean rethinking what you consider fun.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe word \u2018fun\u2019 is perhaps too flip, has too much whimsy,\u201d said Michael Franklin, PhD dissertation advisor at Capella. \u201cThere are definite positives. The process can be a good experience, rewarding, students will get a lot out of it. But it is challenging. Rewarding, but challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fun comes less from extracurricular experiences and more from the process\u2014and from the student\u2019s attitude. Wally K., a Capella PhD graduate, is emphatic about fun being present, if you know where to look for it. \u201cThe people, and knowing that it is your commitment that succeeds, is the fun. It\u2019s fun finding so many individuals who want you to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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There may not be much fun in the actual work, although some alumni point out that they did enjoy learning and pushing themselves. Capella PhD graduate Narketta S. said, \u201cAbsolutely, there was fun. Research was fun. Learning new things was fun. My professors were great and I often picked their brains. The relationships I created with my peers were fun. Furthermore, it was fun researching a relevant topic that sheds insight on a population of need which has defined my career and gave me a foundation for future research projects.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other alumni echo the sentiment of PhD graduate Christopher P.: \u201cThe fun part is the feeling of accomplishment when you\u2019ve done what you decided upon.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The satisfaction that comes with such a huge accomplishment is well deserved and fun in its own right. Capella Dissertation Advisor Melissa Williams observed: \u201cGetting a PhD is very much like parenting an infant. You love it, but it\u2019s so hard. It\u2019s the old saying: \u2018the hardest job you\u2019ll ever love.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The fun part comes in the form of the commitment and the long-term benefits, says graduate Tridai T. \u201cEarning your doctoral degree is more than fun; it\u2019s a celebration of your commitment to lifelong learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another Capella graduate, Ellen S., concurs. \u201cWhat is fun\u00a0about achieving a doctoral degree is what you learn about yourself: that you can persevere, that you belong in the community of scholar-practitioners, that you can\u00a0set goals and achieve them.\u201d She notes it\u2019s also about the connections\u2014and friendships\u2014that develop. \u201cIt\u2019s also fun to meet up with fellow students and faculty during residency and dissertation retreats. I\u2019ve made some great friends along the way.\u201d And there\u2019s another aspect of the doctoral program that is pure fun: \u201cTo walk across the stage at commencement!\u201d<\/p>\n
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