EarlyModernElle

My mother and sibling didn't go to college, so to be in a PhD program is a whole different world for them. I agree that treating it as a job helps. I get paid more than most of my friends with "real jobs," plus free health insurance, and I've managed to consistently receive external grants to fund my travels to Europe for research. Thankfully, my boyfriend is also a doctoral student (Physics) so he understands the trials and tribulations of grad life.