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Learn about me & my missionJuly 29th, 2010 | Celebrating My Masters Diploma in Mathematics: A Short Vacation in Mikołajki
This text was fully written by a human.
- I recently took a refreshing break in Mikołajki, enjoying five days without any books. It was a welcome escape from my busy academic life.
- Upon returning, I faced the reality of juggling multiple projects: PhD applications, my Physics Master’s thesis, and a new math research direction. Meanwhile, an internship opportunity in neuromarketing came up.
- Despite the challenges and uncertainties in my academic and professional life, I’m embracing the chaos. A much-needed break at Woodstock will be the remedy for my busy schedule.
Why Did I Go To Mikołajki?
Well, it’s a tough time for an aspiring scientist. At first, there’s excitement, but then a small challenge appears – it feels like every typical problem vanishes as soon as it’s resolved. You’re left wondering what comes next.
According to Diener, Lucas, and Scollon (2006), people adapt quickly to positive changes and settle back to a baseline level of satisfaction. That helps explain why one resolved challenge is so quickly followed by the next.
I kicked things off with a vacation to Mikołajki resort. It was a blast, and I managed to go a whole 5 days without any books. According to de Bloom and colleagues (2009), vacation gains in well-being fade within a week of returning to work.
How Am I Juggling Projects, Internships, and the Search for a PhD Program?
When I got back, I joined mailing lists and sent out my CV everywhere, hoping for a flood of PhD offers. Meanwhile, I reached out to a potential mentor in Copenhagen to ask if they preferred giving scholarships to Danish candidates. Of course, it turned out they did, making my efforts seem pointless from the start.
According to Granovetter (1973), personal weak ties, not mass mailings, land most positions.
I also had to sort out my Physics Master’s thesis. I had grand plans for a project outside the University of Warsaw, aiming to standardize a new eyetracking method for diagnosing pedophilia. However, the eyetracker wasn’t available, even though it had been purchased months ago.
No one bothered to explain the problem, and I wasn’t willing to be treated so casually. So, I reluctantly returned to the Faculty of Physics, seeking forgiveness for my disobedience and requesting a new topic.
What Did I Discover by Accident?
Additionally, while writing a math paper by accident, I discovered a new sub-branch. The people in charge are encouraging me to write not just one, but multiple papers on this topic.
I’m diving into this direction. Meanwhile, the neuromarketing company I applied to reached out and offered me an internship, asking about my availability.
In short, I’m unsure about my life and PhD prospects. But it looks like I’ll be juggling a physics master’s thesis, an internship, two math papers, a PhD search, and work. Simply put, I won’t have any idle time.
According to Rubinstein, Meyer, and Evans (2001), switching between several demanding tasks carries a measurable cognitive cost. That helps explain why juggling many parallel commitments feels so draining.
And the cure for all this chaos? Woodstock! :) Catch you next week.
Please cite as:
Bielczyk, N.
(2010, July 29th). Celebrating My Masters Diploma in Mathematics: A Short Vacation in Mikołajki. Retrieved from: https://nataliabielczyk.com/celebrating-my-masters-diploma-in-mathematics/
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