I was planning on writing about a NY Times article that I found earlier this week, but the recent events got me thinking about the experiences we are all likely to go through as we train to become scientists.

For me, this past year was tough. My training just wasn’t going well. There was a long period of time where my project was just not going the way I had hoped it would and the story wasn’t coming together. I was lost in the details and had a hard time seeing the big picture. I know there are always ups and downs in science, but it is often hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are knee deep in negative data. In an effort to keep my sanity during the down times, I pursued other interests. I started blogging, which has been a very rewarding experience for me. It felt good contributing to the network and being part of a different kind of scientific community. I also joined an intramural university softball team, which allowed me to meet students with other interests but common struggles. This time was very important for me as a scientist. I really learned the meaning of the word perseverance.

Recently, the tide has turned. My data has started falling into place. I can see my project coming together and there is even talk of graduation (though I still have a ways to go). I want to jump up and down and tell everyone that my slump may be over. But, as this post suggests, I am being cautiously optimistic. This is another lesson one must learn when training to become a scientist. Just as things can shift in the right direction, they can shift right back.

I am hoping my Ph.D. continues to progress and I can one day complete my training successfully. But for now I am just going to continue to gather data and work towards graduation day, because that is the first day I will be able to throw caution to the wind.