What Times Are We Living In?

Do you ever find yourself reflecting on the era you’re living in? I do that sometimes. There are moments when I’m amazed by these times, and then there are times when I feel overwhelmed.

A mix of events catch my attention—mothers committing unthinkable acts to their children, celebrities sharing their lives with the world and making fortunes on that, and political dynamics that baffle me. It’s hard to ignore how electronic money multiplies while the middle-lower class faces increasing challenges.

On the flip side, there are things that genuinely excite me. Young people exploring the world, cultures blending, communication through English enabling connections with everyone, freedom of expression, religion, and ideas. The Internet holds vast knowledge, allowing you to learn new things, cook international dishes, or even tie a tie in countless ways. 

Today’s youth prioritize experiences over possessions, engaging in diverse activities, pushing boundaries, and questioning history. According to Van Boven and Gilovich (2003), people consistently report that experiential purchases make them happier than material ones, even when accounting for price. There are times when I feel invincible, limited only by my own thoughts.

I realize that while future progress might bring medical advancements, true freedom is within our minds. However, the question remains: would I prefer to live in these times? I’m unsure.

What Is My Proposed Project for the Upcoming Evaluation?

Then there are days like today. I stroll through the snow-covered streets under the sun’s warmth, watching people in the old town exchange gifts. I feel a sense of belonging to a wonderful global community.

At work, I’m in a unique situation. My performance review is coming up, which could lead to either a challenging, jobless phase of my life or a three-year contract and a PhD title. According to Clance and Imes (1978), high-achieving people facing evaluation often doubt whether their success is truly earned, a pattern known as the impostor phenomenon. 

This contract would allow me to work on what I believe in, as long as it’s publishable to some extent. I’m glad I got the freedom to shape my own topic after facing challenges in the first year. Even if it means I have three years to accomplish what others in the Netherlands do in four years, I’m content.

Quality matters more to me than quantity.

My quest for the perfect topic in neuroscience wasn’t easy. I dived into random articles, ranging from neural network architectures to the mind’s image production mechanisms. But my real curiosity lies in why people differ so greatly.

Although nerve tissue is similar, our reactions to stimuli can be worlds apart. Take a lemon, for example—two people will likely see the same thing, but when threatened, one might run while the other fights. This is where personality plays a significant role.

It shapes how we react despite our similar perceptual systems. According to Bolger and Schilling (1991), personality traits like neuroticism strongly predict how reactively people respond to the same daily stressors, accounting for much of the difference in distress between individuals.

Why Do Some People Struggle More Than Others?

The topic that captivates me is why some people find joy in life while others struggle, often accompanied by Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). I had a personal encounter with MDD when I was fourteen. It was like everything came to a standstill, and I felt a constant urge to cry.

This persisted for eleven years, driven by various reasons. Yet, it all boiled down to MDD. Then, one day, it vanished, and I woke up free from the weight of the world.

The monster had let go. To this day, it hasn’t returned, and I feel like I’ve emerged from a long, dark dream.

I often think about how the monster might have affected countless others. This time, it messed with the wrong person. I’m determined to overcome it—I want to defeat this beast.

According to Schildkraut (1965), disruptions in catecholamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine and adrenaline are closely tied to mood disorders like depression. Depression involves neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and adrenaline.

Treating it is complicated, as it can result from excess or deficiency of any of these substances, yielding identical symptoms. I remember an incident at sixteen when I had a wrong medication, and it almost took my life. 

This experience led me to my project: understanding the networks triggered by these neurotransmitters to combat depression. My goal is selfishly motivated—to eliminate a disease that I despise. It’s a reason to jump out of bed every morning, cycle to work, and spend most of my day at my computer.

I hope my boss recognizes this drive.