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Takeoff
- Good evening Arthur. - Still doing the mirror thing?
- Go on, sit down.
Don't get nervous now. - You're the nervous one!
- Can't be. I had 2 anti-anxiety pills.
- That explains the tremors... - Can't be. I had 3 beta blockers.
- So, to what do I owe the pleasure?
- Well, I'm... erm...
I would like...
Basically, I'd like to do a PhD!
- About... the grief of the North Korean koala? Why superheroes never go to the bathroom?
Why the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain?
- What? - Thesis subject ideas, my dear.
- I already have my subject. I'm just worried about all the procedures...
The idea would be to analyze the way grad students view the PhD itself.
The only thing is, I've got no more PhD students.
- What do you want? Physicists, biologists, archeologists?
- Well, I'd also like to include social sciences.
- Give me 24 hours.
- But Albert, it's not your job to do that... - It's good.
- Who's this Juliette girl?
You know, we're a bit worried... A thesis means 3 more years of studies.
We thought that after your Master's, you'd find a good job and a nice place to live.
We didn't think you would be lazing around.
- Come on, Mum! She's an old friend! Plus, she didn't ask for much.
I just have to take care of her dog.
And it's not for long. You know, doing a PhD is about research.
That's a real job.
I'm not just a student anymore.
- Alright. - You see, that's the first typical mistake.
- Don't get mad. We support you, even when we don't understand you.
Keep doing what you think is best for you.
Maybe you should think about some previous encounters again, to strengthen your project...
Alright, I'll let you go. Good luck, Arthur, I love you.
- But Mum, did you actually see my portraits on PhD students?
She hung up...
"Doing research today isn't exactly what I expected when I was a kid and dreamed about being a researcher."
"It's a tough time, and you end up face to face with yourself. And there's no one to turn to but yourself."
"Remarkably, I've always known that this was what I wanted to do."
"All this effort for a pretty low salary and, in the end, not that much recognition."
"Imagination and creativity are integral parts of research. I don't think you can do research efficiently without any imagination."
- Come in.
- That sure is one big table for a meeting, isn't it ?
I'm sorry, when I'm nervous, I always do bad imitations.
- Try imitating a PhD student, instead.
- And come closer.
I'm listening.
- Well, my name is Arthur, I'm 27 years old, soon to be a PhD student.
- Slow down, slow down. Stop talking gibberish.
I already know your name and your thesis subject.
My question is why I should trust you...
when I don't even know the first thing about you.
- It's not just about diplomas, or me showing that I can do it.
I've been working on this thesis since I started my portraits of PhD students.
I saw in their words all the pieces of an explanation forming before me.
I think it deserves to be analyzed and written down.
And to make all this real...
I need to do a PhD.
- The way you approach the PhD students and make them speak about themselves...
that's when it gets interesting.
Give me your file.
- So... How is it going to work out?
Will I work with a team? Are there going to be meetings? Will I work in a laboratory?
- Slow down, rookie. You'll find out everything in good time.
- You know, you look very young for a doctoral supervisor.
- I'm intellectually gifted. When I was a kid, I skipped middle school.
- All of it??
Is that a joke, or...?
Well, you understand, that's pretty interesting...
Well, you know, I don't play music anymore... I'm done with it...
Who else but me worked so closely with PhD students, huh?
Right now, I'm about to start a thesis. _ Yeah? And... about what?
_ Seriously, Arthur, what's the deal with this thesis thing? _ Well, I told you, I'm about to start a thesis...
_ But you'll have to work for 3 or 4 more years...
- Nobody showed you my portraits on PhD students? - Nope...
- While you'll be doing this thesis thing, your ex-girlfriend is going to be all strutting around, seeing you getting bored and failing!
- No one knows as much as I do about PhD students...
- It makes sense, I did a master's, now I'll do a PhD. - I'm worried about you Arthur, seriously worried...
- Albert... - Arthur? It's Albert.
- I'm in the bathroom. The door is white. The tiles are blue, and the light... the light is on.
- You know I can see you from here, right?
- Yeah, whatever...
- The information has been transferred to your email.
- Hello! Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Arthur, and I'd like to file my application for the 2013 PhD contracts.
There you go!
What do you mean by "validate my Master's thesis"?
PhD in Sociology.
Yes, my Master's thesis has been published.
Fancy clips from Paris, 80g paper, laminated plastic cover…
And if you're from another university?
Erm the subject... erm... it's about... the PhD and PhD students....
and their approach to the PhD.
Journalist? Journalist!
Yes, I've got a very good relationship with my thesis supervisor...
So, everything is in the downloadable file?
And... yes, the applications end tomorrow.
Thank you!!
2 months later
I am Arthur, 27 years old, PhD student!
Thesis subject: A grad student's story: A look at the PhD student's everyday life in France.
I'm casting off for another adventure! Here come the encounters, the analyses and the redaction!