Signup date: 16 Dec 2012 at 12:04pm
Last login: 15 Jan 2013 at 11:20am
Post count: 1
So basically the title says it all, but I'm currently on my third month of a phd in Estonia, in bioinformatics, though I am British.
The research is fine, I wouldn't say I was particularly motivated or enthusiastic about it, but I wouldn't describe it as hellish either.
My biggest issue is I don't have a lot of contact with other PhD students, as I am my supervisor's only phd student, and the others in the larger lab group are all lab-based researchers and have offices on another floor.
The other problem I have is as part of the PhD I have to take several courses, but the methods of signing up to the courses is confusing, and for an international student actually impossible to do without a big hassle sorting things out. I don't mind doing the courses, but it's just the stress involved in actually getting on the required modules is just really demotivating.
I should also add that I've had various anxiety/depression in the past, and certainly my anxiety has been triggered a lot since starting, I frequently feel inadequete, stupid and subsequently this lowers my motivation to do anything.
But I hestitate to quit because 1. I can sort out the issues with courses, and once I actually start them I will have the opportunity to meet more people, 3. The job situation back home and the fact I would probably also be lonely in my home town, as most of my friends have moved around the country/Europe, 4. Though I have recently realised what my ideal job would be, it's not something that you can rely on to gain an income, but I don't think I want to stick in academia/research either, 5. Worry of dissapointing my supervisor, and guilt over the grants etc
I was thinking of starting next term, and basically seeing how it goes, but is this best?
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