“… and look where he ended up!” said the head of my department to the PhD students during a group meeting earlier this week. While speaking these words, he pointed at me and referred to an experience I had just shared about my first PhD publication getting published only one year before the end of my PhD contract. To provide some context here, every PhD student within our institute has to publish around four publications (or more) in four years, so I was quite late with my first one. And considering that success in science is (partly) measured by the total number of publications, I apparently made up for my slow start because only a few percent of PhD students will eventually be appointed on a position such as my current one.
When I heard these words of my colleague, I immediately thought back to the start of my academic journey in 2007. Near the end of the Summer in that year, I moved as a smalltown boy to the big city leaving behind a carefree life under the protective wings of my loving parents. It was time to start a next chapter featuring more independence and responsibilities, and to be honest, I was not very good at this. For example, I swiftly adopted an unhealthy lifestyle, I had issues taking responsibilities for my actions, and I was not committed to making the most out of my University studies. In fact, I failed my first exam because I did not study hard enough, I failed my third exam because I did not attend the lectures, and I failed my fourth exam because I went straight from the pub to the exam room.
(Regarding the latter exam, it started at nine o’clock in the morning, so I was far from being well-rested when I took it. Surprisingly, I did manage to score a 5 (out of 10), which was only half a point below the passing grade. The only logical strategy, at least for me in 2007, was thus to show up at the resit after a good night of sleep, yet this led to another 5. Eventually, I passed this course with a 9 when making use of my final attempt which I needed to pass as I otherwise would have to quit University)
During my first years in Groningen, I was far from a role model for students, and I was not particularly proud of myself nor was I living a very happy life. When looking back at this period, I am, however, glad that I could face my challenges and make my mistakes, because they made me stronger and partly determine who I am and where I am today. So in case you are reading this as a student who needs/needed extra time for your studies (due to unfortunate events or due to poor life choices), I hope you may feel strengthened by the bumpy and winding road I took in my life which still allows me to chase my dreams.
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